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LINCOLN 鈥� Nebraska teens, under a 2019 state law, must clear a civics requirement to graduate. Immigrants must pass a test on civics and U.S. history to gain U.S. citizenship.

Now a bipartisan group of Nebraska state senators wants to write into law that new members of the officially nonpartisan Legislature take a 20-question civics test 鈥� and publicly post the scores.

A passing grade would not be required, and individual answers would remain confidential. But the 鈥渞aw scores鈥� would be listed on the Legislature鈥檚 official website and also on the lawmaker鈥檚 official public biography.

Results would not affect the ability of any lawmaker to hold or continue to serve in a public role, according to Legislative Bill 1066, which should not 鈥渂e construed to add to or alter the qualifications for office established in the Constitution of Nebraska.鈥�

The introducer of LB 1066, State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, said the effort was inspired by conservative and progressive constituents alike who have questioned the level of understanding and appreciation lawmakers have of U.S. government and responsibility to steward institutions that protect them.

With the country鈥檚 250th birthday approaching, Fredrickson thought it was a good time for the civics test law. The measure is co-sponsored by lawmakers from diverse political backgrounds: State Sens. Stan Clouse of Kearney, Tanya Storer of Whitman and Paul Strommen of Sidney are Republicans; State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha is a progressive independent. Fredrickson is a Democrat.

鈥淲e have a very serious job,鈥� Fredrickson said of all 49 state senators. 鈥淲e create, we amend, and we repeal laws. So ensuring that folks who are in that position are continually educating themselves on our responsibility to uphold the Constitution 鈥� felt like an important step to take.鈥�

Fredrickson said he has at times heard colleagues say things like, 鈥淲ell the governor is the boss.鈥� He recalled a couple of recent situations when the Legislature voted to approve a bill then, following the governor鈥檚 veto, certain senators flipped their votes and buried the proposal.

One such occasion came last year when, despite three consecutive bipartisan votes to lift a lifetime ban on public food aid for some Nebraskans with past drug felonies, the . The only change was Gov. Jim Pillen鈥檚 veto.

That prompted Fredrickson鈥檚 debate remark: 鈥淲e were elected to lead, not to follow, and certainly not to flinch.鈥�

He reminded colleagues that the Legislature is a separate and coequal branch of government to the executive and judicial arms. Such occasions gave rise to his thought: 鈥淗ow do we refresh our memories of the basic principles of how our country works and how our role as legislators should be exercised.鈥�

Storer said she was encouraged to back a bill she believes should get universal support.

She said that while lawmakers come to the Legislature with different experiences, political backgrounds and home districts that represent rural, urban and suburban neighborhoods, a common ground should be a foundational grasp and appreciation of civics and the country鈥檚 road to democracy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a partisan issue. It鈥檚 an American issue,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 know where we鈥檙e going if we don鈥檛 know where we鈥檝e come from, right?鈥�

Admittedly, not everybody loves test-taking, Storer said. She chuckled and said her palms even got a bit sweaty thinking about the process, though not to the point of doubting its value. She said public posting of raw scores might be a deterrent for some, but underscored that a failed grade won鈥檛 get anyone removed from office.

鈥淚f anything, it would prompt us all to be more intentional about studying civics and basic principles of government,鈥� Storer said.

Fredrickson said he is unaware of any past efforts to require a civics test of Nebraska lawmakers, and believes the law would be a first for a state. A public hearing will be scheduled for LB 1066.

Exam questions could be pulled from the civics portion of the test administered to naturalization candidates by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or an equivalent designed by the Nebraska Secretary of State or Nebraska Department of Education.

The Clerk of the Legislature would provide the test, within 90 days of a state senator taking office, that would include 20 randomly selected questions about U.S. history and civics. A lawmaker who doesn鈥檛 reach a passing score would be invited, not required, to attend a voluntary civic literacy seminar conducted by the Nebraska State Historical Society or Legislative Research Office.

For Nebraska students, answering questions from the civics portion of the federal citizenship and naturalization test is one of three options Nebraska school boards have to fulfill the state legal requirement aimed at ensuring students are prepared 鈥渢o be competent and responsible citizens who engage in public debate knowledgeably and in a civil manner.鈥� Other suggested options for students include a project on an important American figure or attendance at a public meeting.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Aaron Sanderford for questions: [email protected].

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