Saturday, May 31, 2025

 


Official website:  https://to.pbs.org/IL_2024 | #IndieLensPBS
Free For All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.

Watch these scenes:

08:51 The First Public Library in America 11:21 Benjamin Franklin’s Public Works
29:04 Immigrants & Urban Libraries

Learn more: 

USCIS.gov: Libraries

Libraries play a critical role in serving immigrant communities. Through our joint effort with IMLS, we plan to educate librarians, and in turn their immigrant customers, on topics ranging from naturalization, the unauthorized practice of immigration law, and the importance of digital literacy.
More Citizenship resources are available at National Library Week.

Friday, May 30, 2025

Balance of Powers, Part 11

Center for Civic Education: The Shift of Power: Balance of Powers, Part 11

From the establishment of our government under the Constitution until Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration in the 1930s, Congress dominated the national government. But then power started to shift toward the executive branch. Learn more in this episode!

60-Second Civics, Episode 5374, May 26, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4679: August 1, 2022)

Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

Learn more:

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Balance of Powers, Part 10

Center for Civic Education: Physical Evidence of the Founders’ Intentions: Balance of Powers, Part 10

Even the placement and design of the three branches of government in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., provides physical evidence of the Founders’ intent that Congress dominate the national government. Listen to learn more!

60-Second Civics, Episode 5373, May 23, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4678: July 29, 2022)

Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

Learn more:

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

2024-2025 MAE Citizenship Class 31



Taking the Oath of Allegiance is an important part of the U.S. Citizenship Test. But what new duties and responsibilities do people swear to uphold?

Watch the NY Historical Society: The Citizenship Project video playlist

Also see

This is the fifteenth class of our semester.  

    Tuesday, May 27, 2025

    Balance of Powers, Part 9

    Center for Civic Education: Congress and the Impeachment Power: Balance of Powers, Part 9

    Evidence that the Framers intended to create a predominant Congress is apparent in how they bestowed the branch with the power to impeach the president and other high officials in the national government. Learn more in this episode!

    60-Second Civics, Episode 5372, May 22, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4677: July 28, 2022)

    Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

    Learn more:

    Monday, May 26, 2025

    U.S. Citizenship Resources for Memorial Day



        Memorial Day Resources from uscitizenpod
        • A 21-Question “Salute” for Memorial Day Quiz based on the USCIS 100qs
        • Memorial Day: Vietnam Time Line (video)
          Ngo Huu Phuc reads "The Vietnam Time Line" essay in honor of Memorial Day. Mr Ngo was a mechanic in the South Vietnam Air Force and studied for US Citizenship at Milpitas Adult School. He became a US Citizen in 2009.  You can find a copy of "The Vietnam Time Line" in HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS IN THE USA by Mary Glasgow, Scholastic Inc., 2001, ISBN 1-900702-59-2.
        • The Vietnam War Memorial, Washington DC (photos)
          The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, The Three Soldiers, and The Vietnam Women's Memorial, april 2013.  I took this picture in 2010 near the Vietnam Heritage Garden, San Jose.  May the American and Vietnamese peoples always stand together!
        • uscitizenpod (gagliajn): Sons of San Jose Vietnam War Memorial
          These photos were taken on Memorial Day 2013 at Sons of San Jose Vietnam War Memorial, Guadalupe Park, by Paula Harbor and were uploaded to Facebook. I asked Paula if I could share them. Her comments:

          I hate war. I hate violence. I hate greed. I look at this name etched into granite and wonder ... what if?

          Over the course of the couple hours I was at this memorial today people came and went. Parents, siblings, friends, vets, Vietnamese with bouquets of thanks. Everyone had a story. "Do you have someone on the wall?" The answer was always yes and the story told. A man came and put his hand on my shoulder. After several moments we spoke. He helped with find raising the memorial and talked about his buddies who are on the wall. I shared about Gus.

        Sunday, May 25, 2025

        Dozens of immigrants in Louisville become US citizens


        Wave News Louisville: Dozens of immigrants in Louisville become US citizens

        Thursday, 62 people from 32 countries recited the Pledge of Allegiance as they celebrated becoming a US citizen.

        Saturday, May 24, 2025

        Memorial Day Weekend Events in Washington Honor Soldiers' Ultimate Sacrifice

        VOA News: Memorial Day Weekend Events in Washington Honor Soldiers' Ultimate Sacrifice 

         Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday dedicated to those who died while serving in America’s wars. To commemorate the day, which falls on the last Monday in May, people flock to Washington to decorate the graves of fallen military service members, attend parades and visit national monuments

        Learn more:

        Friday, May 23, 2025

        Balance of Powers, Part 8

        Center for Civic Education: The Framers Intended Congress to Dominate: Balance of Powers, Part 8

        The Framers of the Constitution intended Congress to be the dominant branch of the national government. Why was that? Listen to find out.

        60-Second Civics, Episode 5371, May 21, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4676: July 27, 2022)

        Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

        Learn more:

        Thursday, May 22, 2025

        Balance of Powers, Part 7

        Center for Civic Education: Limits on Each Branch of Government: Balance of Powers, Part 7

        The Framers of the Constitution created a system of separated and shared powers and checks and balances to limit and control the use of power by governmental institutions and to prevent the possibility of tyranny. Learn more of each branch’s ability to check the use of power by the other institutions in this episode!

        60-Second Civics, Episode 5370, May 20, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4674: July 26, 2022)

        Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

        Learn more:

        Wednesday, May 21, 2025

        2024-2025 MAE Citizenship Class 30



        The U.S. Constitution divides power between the federal government and states, granting specific national powers and reserving others to states via the 10th Amendment, with federal laws generally overriding state laws.

        Watch the NY Historical Society: The Citizenship Project video playlist

        Also see

        This is the fourteenth class of our semester.  

          Tuesday, May 20, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 6

          Center for Civic Education: How the Supreme Court Shares Power: Balance of Powers, Part 6

          The Framers of the Constitution wanted to prevent a tyrannical executive in the presidency and a tyranny of a majority in Congress.  But they were also careful to limit the power of the courts. Learn how in today’s episode!

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5369, May 15, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4674: July 23, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Monday, May 19, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 5

          Center for Civic Education: How Congress Shares Power: Balance of Powers, Part 5

          The Framers of the Constitution made each branch of the national government share some of its primary responsibilities and powers with one or more of the other branches.  For example, the president and the executive branch have the primary responsibility for carrying out and enforcing laws. Learn more!

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5368, May 14, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4673: July 22, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Sunday, May 18, 2025

          Welcoming New U.S. Citizens: Naturalization Ceremony at Rogers High School

          Spokane Public Schools: Welcoming New U.S. Citizens: Naturalization Ceremony at Rogers High School 

          Rogers High School proudly hosted a naturalization ceremony on March 28, welcoming over 50 new U.S. citizens. Presided over by Judge James A. Goeke of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, this powerful event was filled with emotion, hope, and celebration.

          Saturday, May 17, 2025

          Anniversary of Brown v. the Board of Education

          Today is the anniversary of the ruling in the Supreme Court case, Brown v. the Board of Education (1954). The decision, written by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, said that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This decision made the racial segregation of schools against the law in every US state.


          COABE: Legislative Center (advocacy for Adult Education)

          Colorin Colorado: Landmark Court Rulings Regarding English Language Learners (page)

          National Archives:   (page, original docs)

          National Trust for Historic Preservation: "These Children Do Speak English:" Language and the Fight Against School Segregation (page)

          NEA Today: Revisiting Brown v. Board of Education – 70 Years Later (page)

          TESOL: Advocacy Center (all English Language Learners)

          US Courts: History - Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment (lesson plan, activity)

          VOA Learning English: Brown v. Board of Education Helps Launch Civil Rights Movement (2018 article, video, audio, quiz)

          VOA Learning English: 70 Years after Brown Decision, School Segregation Getting Worse (2024 article, audio, quiz)

          POP QUIZ:

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

          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?

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

          Friday, May 16, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 4

          Center for Civic Education: How Congress Shares Power: Balance of Powers, Part 4

          The Framers of the Constitution wanted to limit the power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government. So, they made each of them share some of its primary responsibilities and accompanying powers with one or more of the other branches. Listen for more!

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5367, May 13, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4672: July 21, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Thursday, May 15, 2025

          The little-known history of birthright citizenship



          The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Thursday about birthright citizenship. Today we explore the history of this constitutional right and meet the man who has become an unlikely spokesman for saving it.

          Norman Wong and Birthright Citizenship

          Norman Wong is an American. He is 75 years old and lives near San Francisco. His great-grandfather was Wong Kim Ark. Wong Kim Ark was born in the U.S. in the 1800s. His parents were from China. But the U.S. government did not want to let him come back after he visited China.

          Wong Kim Ark went to court. The case went to the Supreme Court in 1898. The court said he was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the U.S. This helped create the law of “birthright citizenship.”

          What is birthright citizenship?
          If you are born in the U.S., you are a citizen — no matter where your parents are from.

          Now, President Trump wants to change this rule. He signed an order to stop birthright citizenship for children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally or on short-term visas. Many people and states disagreed. They went to court.

          The case is now going to the Supreme Court. Norman Wong is speaking out to protect his great-grandfather’s legacy and to support birthright citizenship for future generations.

          Sources and further reading:

          Garrett Epps’s law review article about the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment has everything you’ll ever need to know about the history of birthright citizenship in the US article The Library of Congress has a great map showing which countries of the world offer unconditional birthright citizenship like the US map The 1861 map of the US we use a few times in the piece is itself a strikingly rich document that I could stare at forever 1861 map
          Some other original documents we use in the piece: Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship EO 14106 The Ipsos poll containing the question about support for ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants: IPSOS Survey The Dred Scott decision article
          President Andrew Johnson’s letter vetoing the 1866 Civil Rights Act article Congress’s debates over the 14th Amendment (we quoted from page 498) debate The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act article The Wong Kim Ark decision article Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

          Also see:

          Center for Civic Education: Birthright Citizenship part 5 of the Citizenship at the Founding playlist


          VOA Learning English: News Words: Executive Order | Birthright Citizenship

          Wednesday, May 14, 2025

          2024-2025 MAE Citizenship Class 29



          This is the thirteenth class of our semester.  
          Learn more:

          Tuesday, May 13, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 3

          Center for Civic Education: How to Prevent Tyranny: Balance of Powers, Part 3

          The Framers of the Constitution were concerned about two things: first, the emergence of a tyrannical executive in the presidency and second, a tyranny of a majority in Congress. Learn how they designed a system of government to address these concerns in this episode! 

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5366, May 12, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4671: July 20, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Monday, May 12, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 2

          Center for Civic Education: Congress as the Predominant Branch: Balance of Powers, Part 2

          Which branch of the federal government has the most power? We explore the intentions of the Framers for how power was to be distributed among the branches in today’s episode!  

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5365, May 9, 2025 (Episode 4670: July 19, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Sunday, May 11, 2025

          Happy Mother's Day!



          uscitizenpod: Three Citizenship Questions for Mother's Day (video)

          Ann Reeves Jarvis was a peace activist who took care of wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. After the war, she hosted Mother's Day Friendship picnics for the women on both sides of the war.  She also created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues.

          After Ann Reeves Jarvis died, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work that her mother had started.  Anna Jarvis started a petition to set aside one day every year to honor all mothers.  She said that a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world."

          In 1908, Anna Jarvis sent a petition to Congress to make Mother's Day a national holiday. Although Congress rejected the petition, many states and cities adopted the idea.  In 1914, Woodrow Wilson  signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.

          Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
          • civil rights
          • first amendment rights
          • states’ rights
          • women's rights

          What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
          • join a camping group
          • join a civic group
          • join a comedy group
          • join a community group

          Name two national U.S. holidays.
          • Memorial Day
          • Mother's Day
          • Valentine's Day
          • Veterans Day

          Source: Wikipedia
          Image Source: USPS Mother of America Stamp

          Saturday, May 10, 2025

          Balance of Powers, Part 1

          Center for Civic Education: “A Constitutional World Turned Upside Down”: Balance of Powers, Part 1

          Today we begin a special series of podcasts to examine the question of whether power in the federal government is appropriately balanced between Congress and the executive and judicial branches. We will also learn how power has shifted from Congress to the executive and judicial branches of government and consider the implications of this shift. 

          60-Second Civics, Episode 5364, May 8, 2025 (Episode 4669: July 18, 2022)

          Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics

          Learn more:

          Friday, May 9, 2025

          The Barbara Bush Stamp

          As an ESL/Citizenship teacher, I deeply appreciate the efforts of the Barbara Bush Foundation on behalf of adult learners and their families.

           
           


          In the White House’s East Room, first lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered to unveil a U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of former first lady Barbara Bush.

          Thursday, May 8, 2025

          REAL ID



          REAL ID Playlist (multiple languages)

          Check your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website or YouTube channel.

          Also see: 




          REAL ID: A Google AI-generated Lesson Plan (5/8/2025) (Google Doc with links)
          An ESL lesson plan that focuses on "Real ID" would likely involve teaching students about the concept of identification documents, specifically focusing on "Real ID" requirements and how to obtain one. The lesson could cover topics like what a Real ID is, its purpose, and how to apply for one, using visuals like a picture of a driver's license or other accepted forms of identification.

          Wednesday, May 7, 2025

          2024-2025 MAE Citizenship Class 28



          This is the twelfth class of our semester.  
          Learn more:

          Monday, May 5, 2025

          A U.S. Citizenship Quiz for Cinco de Mayo


          Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5. The date commemorates the Mexican Army's surprise victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the late 1980's, California schools and cities in California started to celebrate Cinco de Mayo as an expression of our state's Mexican-American heritage. However, some people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexico's Independence Day.

          Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 and is similar to America's Independence Day on July 4th. Cinco de Mayo is closer to our Patriot's Day, which is celebrated in the New England states  during mid-April. Patriot's Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. For more that 100 years, the city of Boston has celebrated Patriot's Day by hosting the Boston Marathon, the world's largest marathon.

          But let's get back to Cinco de Mayo. Today I have selected five topics to showcase Mexican-American heritage: The constitution and the Bill of rights. the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch, and Geography and Holidays. I will read the questions, and Mexican-American students from our ESL3 class will read the answers. 

          Listen to the podcast, then download the pdf from our website, uscitizenpod.com, and take the quiz: 
          • Five for Cinco de Mayo pdf


          Five more resources:
          • Citizenship Interview Quiz with Antonio Vazquez Gonzalez pdf
          • Lino habla de su entrevista de Ciudadanía video
          • Maria Isabel Covarrubas talks about her Citizenship Interview video
          • Mezclar y Combinar Entrevistas y Exámencitos de Ciudadanía pdf
          • Yésica Sánchez: A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about Voting and Elections pdf