Congress should require that all candidates for federal office take and pass a basic civics test.

In this election year, there are several candidates for federal office -- including at least one presidential candidate -- who have demonstrated by their actions and statements that they lack even rudimentary knowledge about our government. Naturalized citizens must take a civics test. We should be assured that the people who run our country have at least the same amount of knowledge. The test should be a basic but comprehensive high school level test on how laws are made, how the government operates (including separation of powers), and the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The test should be comprised of at least 200 questions, with at least a 90% score to pass. In order to be on the ballot for federal office, potential candidates should be required to pass the test.