HR7431-119

What This Bill Does

Section 2 would take effect only if the related constitutional amendment in H.J.Res. 146 is ratified. It requires Congress to establish a 25-question civics examination for each 10-year census term, drawn from 100 approved questions across American history, constitutional structure, civil rights, elections, federalism, separation of powers, Congress, the presidency, executive departments, the Supreme Court, and the federal judiciary. An elected or appointed Member of Congress could not be seated until successfully completing the exam; failure within two weeks after election or appointment would create a vacancy. Appropriate committees must report questions, model answers, passing thresholds, and joint-session rules by June 30 before each census term; Members may submit proposed questions by March 31; Congress must approve the exam in joint session by October 31; the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate must administer it online at no cost to citizens, publish successful completers in a public database, and issue certificates. Section 3 creates an interim rulemaking-power regime for the 120th Congress and later, requiring Members to pass a similar exam before committee or joint-committee assignments until section 2 becomes effective.

Who Benefits and How

Citizens benefit from public access to the same civics exam and a database of successful completers. Voters and congressional committees may benefit from a standardized public measure of Members' civics knowledge. The Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, Committee on House Administration, and Senate Rules Committee receive defined administrative roles.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Members of Congress and newly elected or appointed Members must pass the exam to be seated if the constitutional amendment takes effect and must pass interim exams for committee assignments beginning with the 120th Congress. The Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, House Administration Committee, Senate Rules Committee, and each chamber must create questions, model answers, passing thresholds, online administration, public databases, certificates, joint-session or chamber approval procedures, and attempt limits.

Key Provisions

• Creates a future seating requirement, contingent on ratification of H.J.Res. 146, that Members of Congress pass a 25-question civics exam or face a vacancy after two weeks.
• Requires 100 approved questions and model answers for each 10-year census term, with topics spanning U.S. history, constitutional law, civil rights, elections, federalism, Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary.
• Requires committee reports by June 30, Member question submissions by March 31, joint-session approval by October 31, journal publication, online public access, a public database, and certificates.
• Creates an interim chamber-rule requirement that Members pass similar exams before committee or joint-committee assignments beginning with the 120th Congress until the constitutional amendment regime takes effect.