Americans Brace for Government Shutdown October 1

VOAVideo: Americans Brace for Government Shutdown October 1

Americans are bracing for a is in a partial shutdown of the national government that looks increasingly likely to begins Tuesday, as a politically-divided Congress remains was unable to agree on a formula to extend federal spending authority. VOA's Michael Bowman reports, absent a last-minute deal, non-essential government services will halt and hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be idled.

White House White Board: What ObamaCare Means For You

White House White Board: What ObamaCare Means For You

Starting October 1st, you can go to http://www.healthcare.gov and use the new Health Insurance Marketplace to see all of the health plans available in your area and sign up for the one that fits your needs and budget. You can also find out if you're eligible to pay less for private health insurance or whether you qualify for other free or low-cost programs.

2015 Diversity Visa Lottery - Registration is Open from October 1 - November 2

Online registration for the 2015 Diversity Visa Lottery will begin on  Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:00 noon, (EDT) (GMT-4),  and close on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 12:00 noon, (EDT) (GMT-4). This congressionally mandated program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas every year. Winners are randomly drawn from the people who enter and meet strict eligibility requirements.  In order to be eligible, you must be from a country with low rates of immigration to the United States  and meet the education or work experience requirements.  Download the program instructions (PDF) to find out if you are eligible to apply. If you plan to apply, watch out for fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. government websites. Some companies posing as the U.S. government have sought money in order to “complete” DV entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.  To learn more, see the Department of State warning. Find out if you’re eligible to enter the Diversity Visa Lottery and learn how to apply.

West Wing Week 9/27/13 or "42 44"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 9/27/13 or "42 44"

Welcome to this week's West Wing Week, this week we take you from Pennsylvania Ave to the heartland of America, to the Rocky Mountains, to the Big Apple and south of the boarder for a packed week of travel with the President and Vice President.

West Wing Week 9/20/13 or, "Every Moment of Every Day"

wh.gov: West Wing Week 9/20/13 or, "Every Moment of Every Day"

This week, the President responded to the shootings at the Navy Yard in DC, invited small business owners to the White House as he spoke on the 5 year anniversary of the financial crisis, addressed the Business Roundtable and the Export Council, sat down for interviews with ABC & Telemundo, welcomed the Amir of Kuwait, newly appointed Foreign Ambassadors, and Youth of the Year winners, and the First Lady spoke on marketing healthier food to children.

Citizenship Day Naturalization Ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

USCIS: Citizenship Day Naturalization Ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Join us in welcoming 25 new U.S. citizens during a special Constitution Day and Citizenship Day naturalization ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Rand Beers will administer the Oath of Allegiance. USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas will present the candidates for citizenship and Danielle Gray, Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President, will provide remarks. Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will give the keynote speech.

While you watch the ceremony we encourage you to express your thoughts and congratulations with your fellow Americans by following us on Twitter @USCIS and using #newUScitizen.

Happy US Constitution and Citizenship Day from Milpitas Adult Education

Happy US Constitution and Citizenship Day from Milpitas Adult Education (all photos)

Other photo sets:
We signed the Constitution ~ IN THE MORNING!
These are photos from the morning signing of the US Constitution, hosted by the ESL 1 Class.

ESL 1 Constitution Day Volunteers
ESL 1 students set up tables, helped students signed the Constitution, and Serve cake.

We signed the Constitution ~ AT NIGHT!
These are photos from the evening signing of the US Constitution, hosted by the Citizenship Class.

Happy US Constitution and Citizenship Day!

uscitizenpod: The U.S. Constitution

A basic introduction to the Constitution for ESL/Citizenship students. This video is based upon a ppt that I made in 2005 and modified in 2008. Thanks for studying the U.S. Constitution--I know that you will be a great American citizen!

NEW: What is Constitution and Citizenship Day? pdf

Constitution Day Resources Part 6

nclr: Becoming an American
A tribute to all the immigrants that have made the United States great.

Heritage.org: We the People: Honoring Constitution Day

As we celebrate another Constitution Day, we should take time to reflect on the awesome gift of the Constitution and work to commit ourselves further to the principles of the Founding.

Constitution Day Resources Part 5

A Quick Interview for US Constitution and Citizenship Day

A new multiple choice quiz: 20 N-400 interview questions and 10 USCIS 100 questions about the US Constitution. Direct download: Const-Day-Quick-Interview.pdf

Here is the 2011 4 page multiple choice quiz: Const-Day-Int-Quiz-2011.pdf

Constitution Day Resources Part 4

Today's Topic: The 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments



After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment gave the right to vote to all male US Citizens.

However, some communities refused to allow certain minorities to vote.

Women could not vote until the 19th Amendment (1920).

The Chinese Exclusion Act which took away the right to vote from US native-born citizens of Asian ancestry was repealed in 1943.
Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States which strongly discouraged African-Americans to vote was repealed by the 24th Amendment, 1964 & the Voting Rights Act 1965.



The Nineteenth Amendment gave suffrage (the right to vote) to women.

VOANews: Susan B. Anthony, 1820-1906: She Led the Fight to Gain Equal Rights for Women, Including the Right to Vote
The nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution won final approval in 1920 but she did not live to see it. Transcript of radio broadcast: 14 June 2008


24th Amendment made it illegal to make a citizen pay a voting fee. It is illegal to make a citizen take a reading test to vote. The 24th Amendment (1964) and the Civil Rights Movement led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. crushed Jim Crow laws which discriminated against African Americans.

VOANews: Civil Rights Movement: In the '60s, a Struggle for Equality in US: Activists marched, held sit-in protests and led "freedom rides" to demand better treatment of black Americans. Martin Luther King Junior lived by the idea of nonviolence, but his murder led to riots in more than 100 cities.


26th Amendment: US citizens who are 18 years old or older have the right to vote. 1971.

VOANews: Nixon Promises to 'Bring the American People Together' After '68 Win
Richard Nixon lost the 1960 election to John Kennedy, but he was known for his ability to fight, to lose, and to keep trying. Those skills would soon be tested.

• USCIS 100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
• USCIS 100:48.49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
• USCIS 100:48.50. Name one right only for United States citizens.
• USCIS 100:48.54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
• USCIS 100:48.55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
• USCIS 100:48.77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
• USCIS 100:48.84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
• USCIS 100:85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

More activities from USCitzenPod:

• Here is a pdf of Voting Rights.
• Here is a pdf of Voting Cloze Essay.

Constitution Day Resources Part 3

Today's Topic: The First Amendment

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Here is a (.pdf) or (.doc) of this webpage:The First Amendment.

Freedom of speech
A person can say or think anything they want.






Freedom of religion
A person can practice any religion or no religion. The government cannot establish a national religion.





Freedom of assembly
People can come together to have peaceful meetings, rallies, marches, or demonstrations.






Freedom of the press
A person can read, write, publish, or broadcast anything they want.







Right to petition
People can ask the government to change the law.






Here is a (.pdf) or (.doc) of this webpage:
The First Amendment.





USCIS: NEW! Bill of Rights and Other Amendments - Beginning Level

The Bill of Rights and Other Amendments lesson plan and handouts for literacy students and low beginners covering civics test items 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 48, 50, 51, 54, and 66.

Download file (1.3 MB)  | 08/16/12

Download handouts (428.4 KB) 
Download answer key (508.0 KB) 

Constitution Day Resources Part 2

Today's Topic: The Preamble

The Premble lists the reasons that the 13 original colonies separated from their mother ountry, and became an independent nation.

We the People of the United States,

in Order to form a more perfect Union, good government

establish Justice, good laws

insure domestic Tranquility, peace in our homes

provide for the common defence, national security

promote the general Welfare, healthy communities

and secure the Blessings of Liberty freedom

to ourselves and our Posterity, children

do ordain and establish give power to

this Constitution the supreme law of the land

for the United States of America.

Here is class handout of the Preamble Puzzle pdf

Here is class handout of a Summary of the US Constitution.
Direct download: const-summary.pdf

Constitution Day Resources Part 1

Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is an American federal holiday that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution. Citizenship Day also recognizes all who have become citizens due to either coming of age or naturalization. It is celebrated on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

Before Constution Day, students study the US Constitution, focusing on the rights and responsibilites of American Citizenship. On Constitution Day, students sign a large copy of the Constitution and are given pocket-sized copies of the Constitution. Many Adult Schools honor the students who were naturalized as American citizen during the previous school year. The school also encourages the students who are preparing for naturalization during the upcoming school year.

For more info, see:

America Reads the Constitution
The National Constitution Center held the first “America Reads the Constitution” on September 17, 2004. A diverse group of people read the Constitution from start to finish, from “We the People” to the final words of the 27th Amendment. “America Reads the Constitution” pdf includes the words of the Constitution for 100 readers.

ELCivics.com: The US Constitution
Learn about the US Constituion with Pictures, Easy Lessons, and Fun Activities

ESLPOD English 92
LISTEN to the Preamble to the US Constitution.

The National Archives
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates this important day in our nation's history by presenting the following activities, lesson plans, and information. We encourage teachers and students at all levels to learn more about our Constitution and government.

National Constitution Center: Home
The National Constitution Center, located on Philadelphia's Independence Mall, is the worlds only museum devoted to the US Constitution.

NCC: We the People
Resources to help you celebrate Constitution Day – the birthday of your government – featuring over 200 activities, lessons, books, DVDs and more from over 30 different providers. Plan your Constitution Day celebration here!

US Citizenship Podcast
Check back every day for updated materials for Constitution Day. Ex: Constitution Quiz Based on the USCIS 100

USCIS Citizenship Resource Center
Benjamin Franklin and the U.S. Constitution - Beginning Level

Benjamin Franklin and the U.S. Constitution lesson plan and handouts for literacy students and low beginners covering civics test items 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 65, 66, 67, and 68.

Download file (255.8 KB)  | 08/07/12

Download handouts (424.5 KB) 
Download answer key (210.9 KB) 

Ground Zero Recovery Museum Comforts, Informs

USCIS 100:86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

VOAVideo: Ground Zero Recovery Museum Comforts, Informs

Wednesday marks the 12th anniversary of September 11, 2001 when two planes slammed into the towers of New York's World Trade Center, killing more than two thousand people. The National September 11 Memorial Museum is to open next year and will revisit the story of that horrific morning. Images and stories of the recovery effort at Ground Zero, as emergency personnel and volunteers worked to find human remains and artifacts, are less well known. VOA's Adam Phillips visited a small Manhattan museum devoted to the memory of New York's 9/11 aftermath.

USCIS 100:86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

▪ Terrorists attacked the United States.

Happy Birthday, California!

Today is California Admissions Day.

I have created and uploaded a simple fact sheet about the State of California. I also included info about our local government officials for the students of Milpitas Adult School.

I uploaded this as a .doc file instead of .pdf so you can easily modify the .doc with the info/pictres of your own state and local officials. Have fun!

USCIS 100:20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*

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

USCIS 100:43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

USCIS 100:44. What is the capital of your state?*

Do Van Nguyen's Citizenship Interview--updated!

Do Van Nguyen's Citizenship Interview

An updated version of Do Van Nguyen's Citizenship Interview with better sound and timing. I will adjust the timing later this week. Good luck, Do!

New USPS stamp: MADE IN AMERICA--BUILDING A NATION

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

MADE IN AMERICA--BUILDING A NATION