Thursday, June 30, 2022

Jackson Sworn in, Becomes 1st Black Woman on Supreme Court

 


Nearly three months after she won confirmation to the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the court's 116th justice on Thursday. 

The 51-year-old Jackson took the place Thursday of the justice she once worked for: Justice Stephen Breyer, whose retirement took effect at noon. 

Moments later, joined by her family, Jackson recited the two oaths required of Supreme Court justices, one administered by Breyer and the other by Chief Justice John Roberts. 

“With a full heart, I accept the solemn responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and administering justice without fear or favor, so help me God,” Jackson said in a statement issued by the court. “I am truly grateful to be part of the promise of our great Nation. I extend my sincerest thanks to all of my new colleagues for their warm and gracious welcome.” 

Roberts welcomed Jackson “to the court and our common calling.” The ceremony was streamed live on the court's website. 

Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, is joining three other women, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett — the first time four women will serve together on the nine-member court. 

POP QUIZ

USCIS 100:01. What is the supreme law of the land?

USCIS 100:12. What is the “rule of law”?

USCIS 100:37. What does the judicial branch do?

USCIS 100:38. What is the highest court in the United States?

USCIS 100:39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

USCIS 100:40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Trump Fought Secret Service to Join Capitol Rioters, White House Aide Testifies

 


U.S. lawmakers’ investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol resumed Tuesday with testimony from a top Trump White House aide. As VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson explains, the testimony sheds new light on the former president’s attempt to hold onto power.

Monday, June 27, 2022

World Refugee Day

 
Share America: World Refugee Day 

 As this year's World Refugee Day theme states, "Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety."

Sunday, June 26, 2022

American PRIDE!



In honor of LGBT Pride Month, a single question about the Flag: Long May She Wave!  Text: uscitizenpod |  Video: Lori Saltis

Take the full quiz:


LOVE AND PRIDE: A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of LGBT Pride Month (10 questions)


Center for Civic Education: 60 Second Civics LGBTQ+ Pride Week Series
  • Part 1: What’s Significant About the Stonewall Riots? 
  • Part 2: Laying the Groundwork for LGBTQ+ Rights
  • Part 3: Goodridge: The Cinderella Moment for Marriage Equality
  • Part 4: Early Legislative Victories for LGBTQ+ Rights
  • Part 5: The Defense of Marriage Act
  • Part 6: Obergefell v. Hodges
  • Part 7: The Future for LGBTQ+ Rights

WH.gov
  • President Biden Deliver Remarks to Celebrate Pride Month 2022
  • President Biden Signs H.R. 49, to Designate the National Pulse Memorial, Into Law 2021
  • Remarks by President Joe Biden in Recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021
  • Vice President Harris Holds a Roundtable Marking LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021

State.gov & Dept. of the Interior
  • US Dept. of the Interior: This Week at Interior June 3, 2022  (start 3:43)
  • State: Secretary Blinken hosts and delivers remarks at a Pride Reception at the Department of State. 2022
  • State: Progress Flag Raising Ceremony at US Department of State in Honor of Pride Month - 3:30 PM 2021
  • State: Secretary Blinken Atlantic Council Pride Interview 2021
  • State: Secretary Blinken Celebrates Pride Month 2021
  • State: Secretary Blinken participates in a virtual conversation “Pressing for Equality"- 1:00 PM 2021

VOA News and VOA Learning English:
updated June 27, 2022

Friday, June 24, 2022

US Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade

 


The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the decades-old Roe v. Wade decision, which said women have a constitutional right to have an abortion. States will now decide whether to permit the procedure; it's expected that roughly half could do so. VOA’s Laurel Bowman reports. 

Learn more: 
  • USCIS 100:37-47 System of Gov’t: Judicial Branch, State Gov’t, Political Parties pdf

Jan. 6 Investigators: Trump Pressured Department of Justice to Overturn 2020 Election

 



Learn more:

N-400 Section Interviews: Thirty N-400 Section Practice Interviews Based on the USCIS Application for Naturalization (updated).  Download all 30 interviews in one convenient pdf!

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

January 6 Investigators: Trump Pressured Election Officials in Key States

 


‘No evidence’ of election fraud in Georgia, Arizona to justify Trump claims.

Learn more:
  • uscitizenpod: Electoral College Citizenship Quizzes
    • Part 1: U.S. Civics mp3 / pdf
    • Part 2: U.S. History mp3 / pdf

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

USCIS Eligible to Naturalize Factsheets by County and Zip Code


LPRs per zip code in Santa Clara County.  Milpitas, CA 95035--my home town-leads the way!  
See y'all at Milpitas Adult School adulted.musd.org!

From March to May 2022, USCIS released a series of factsheets that highlight Lawful Permanent Residents who are eligible to--but have not naturalized--yet.  Please check this list, see if your service area is listed, and consider how to tailor your ESL/Citizenship to help these LPRs to become U.S. citizens.

Thanks Kelton for the head's up!

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Juneteenth Monday

 


Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19, 1866. A year earlier on that date, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom and that the US Civil War had ended two months earlier.

uscitizenpod: A Juneteenth Citizenship Quiz: 19 Civics Questions that Celebrate Freedom

HAPPY JUNETEENTH!



uscitzenpod: USCIS 100:76 Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth

More U.S. Citizenship resources for Juneteenth

Saturday, June 18, 2022

What does the Juneteenth flag mean?

 


The Juneteenth flag commemorates the day that slavery ended in the US. 

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, passed by Congress, to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19th, as a federal holiday. 

The celebration started with the freed slaves of Galveston, Texas. They got the news the war was over and they were free in 1865 on June 19, a date that was melded into the word “Juneteenth.”

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

CASAS Assessments for Citizenship Preparation

 
 
CASAS Assessments for Citizenship Preparation google slide | pdf | resource padlet

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Flag Day (June 14)

New Tradition: The Civic Season starts on Flag Day (June 14), continues to Juneteenth (June 19th), and ends Independence Day (July 4). 




Get ready for Flag Day On June 14 with a Pop Quiz, then try the full thirteen question quiz below.



Learn more:


Saturday, June 11, 2022

Protesters Press for Broader Representation at Summit of the Americas

 


As leaders from many Western Hemisphere nations tackle issues such as climate change and migration at the Summit of the Americas, protesters unhappy with the official agenda gathered outside the meeting and held an alternative people's summit nearby. Mike O'Sullivan reports from Los Angeles. 


Biden said the United States will expand opportunities for people to come to the United States, allowing 20,000 refugees from the region to resettle in the country over the next two years.

U.S. State Dept.: Summit of the Americas

The United States is hosting the Ninth Summit of the Americas this week in Los Angeles, California with a focus on “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future” for our hemisphere.


The Summits of the Americas are institutionalized gatherings of the heads of state and government of the Western Hemisphere where leaders discuss common policy issues, affirm shared values and commit to concerted actions at the national and regional level to address continuing and new challenges faced in the Americas.


Unionists, activists, grassroots organizations and progressive people of the Americas met for the People’s Summit on June 8th, 9th and 10th to counter the 9th Summit of the Americas to be held in Los Angeles, CA.

POP QUIZ

USCIS 100:6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

USCIS 100:9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

USCIS 100:58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

USCIS 100:77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

USCIS 100:84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Friday, June 10, 2022

January 6th Committee Hearing

 
 

After more than a year of investigation, the January 6 Committee held its first public hearing Thursday night, making the case before the American people that former U.S. President Donald Trump directed his followers to storm the U.S. Capitol as part of a conspiracy to hold on to the presidency.

POP QUIZ

USCIS 100:21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? 

USCIS 100:23. Name your U.S. Representative.

USCIS 100:26. We elect a President for how many years?

USCIS 100:27. In what month do we vote for President?*

USCIS 100:28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

USCIS 100:29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

USCIS 100:52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

USCIS 100:53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

USCIS 100:94. What is the capital of the United States?*

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Low Voter Turnout in Bay Area, California

 
 

As the ballots were being counted Tuesday night, people watching this election had predicted a low voter turnout. It’s clear that prediction was accurate. Cheryl Hurd reports.

POP QUIZ:

USCIS 100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

USCIS 100:49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

USCIS 100:50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?


USCIS 100:42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? 

USCIS 100:77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

USCIS 100:89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

USCIS 100:93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Voters In 7 States Head To The Polls Tuesday For Primary Elections


 
 

As voters head to the polls, the Democrats' control of Congress is in play with dozens of House seats in contention. At the local level, all eyes will be on key races, including two candidates neck and neck for mayor of Los Angeles.

POP QUIZ:

USCIS 100:21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? 

USCIS 100:22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

USCIS 100:23. Name your U.S. Representative.

USCIS 100:25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

USCIS 100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

USCIS 100:49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

USCIS 100:50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

USCIS 100:54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

USCIS 100:45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

Monday, June 6, 2022

President Biden and Vice President Harris Welcome BTS to the White House

 


President Biden and Vice President Harris welcome BTS (@BANGTANTV) to discuss the need to come together in solidarity, Asian inclusion and representation, and addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination. 

Learn more: 
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month post

Sunday, June 5, 2022

American Pentecost: A Citizenship Quiz about Languages in America



American Pentecost: A Citizenship Quiz about Languages in America pdf




An American Pentecost:
We are American Indians, Native Alaskans, Europeans, Latinos, Africans, Arabs, Asians, Pacific Islanders-- yet all of us hear America speaking in our own languages about FREEDOM!

For more info about languages spoken in America:

Voting Rights Act Sect 203
Section 203 targets those language minorities that have suffered a history of exclusion from the political process: Spanish, Asian, Native American, and Alaskan Native. The Census Bureau identifies specific language groups for specific jurisdictions.
Section 203 says that jurisdictions (cities, counties, states) shall provide election materials in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.
Sources:
  • DOJ: MINORITY LANGUAGE CITIZENS: Section 203 of the voting Rights Act pdf
  • US Census: 2020 Presidential Election Voting and Registration Tables (2020) pdf
  • GPO: Federal Registrar: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2016, Determinations Under Section 203 pdf

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Pride, Flag, and the Lincoln Memorial

 

US Dept. of the Interior: This Week at Interior June 3, 2022  (start 3:43)

For the second year in a row a Progress Pride flag is flying above Interior to mark LGBTQI+ Pride Month; and happy 100th birthday to the Lincoln Memorial in our social media Picture of the Week! 

Watch from the beginning of the video for the following:

This Week: Interior leaders join federal, state and Tribal officials to execute the Navajo-Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement; in Nevada Secretary Haaland announces significant clean energy advancements toward the administration's goal of a net-zero economy by 2050; a $33 million investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will put people to work plugging, remediating and reclaiming orphaned oil and gas wells on America's public lands; Interior hosts a first of its kind, nationwide symposium on environmental justice; BOEM announces the next steps for wind lease sales offshore California; there's final approval for construction of a 416-mile power transmission line in Wyoming; Interior announces $279 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia for outdoor recreation and conservation projects; Interior officials mark Historic Preservation Month with a visit to Antietam and Monocacy National Battlefields, and the Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Maryland; USFWS announces more than $20 million to further bird and habitat conservation; Plus the Progress Flag and the Lincoln Memorial