# Should the POTUS have to pass a basic civics/world affairs knowledge test? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 15, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919 "2017-02-15T17:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/21 "2017-02-16T06:14:31Z")
It would be a silly result if Congress could impose restrictions on who could become president. In theory they could then make the requirements so onerous that no one was qualified and eliminate the office entirely. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/22 "2017-02-19T19:42:06Z")
In addition to being unconstitutional, it would become inherently political. Imagine the following question: “True or False: Tax cuts stimulate the economy and create jobs.” Who decides the correct answer to that question? Further, if the President has to pass such a test, shouldn’t the people voting have to pass the same test? That is an enormous can of worms. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/23 "2017-02-19T19:46:33Z")
If this is such a great idea, why is it that no democratic country in the world has done it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/24 "2017-02-19T19:51:14Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > In addition to being unconstitutional, it would become inherently political. \*\* Imagine the following question: “True or False: Tax cuts stimulate the economy and create jobs.”\*\* Who decides the correct answer to that question? > > Further, if the President has to pass such a test, shouldn’t the people voting have to pass the same test? That is an enormous can of worms. That’s a policy position/opinion. It has nothing to do with how the government works. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/25 "2017-02-19T20:09:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s a policy position/opinion. It has nothing to do with how the government works. I agree. Will the test writers agree with our position? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/26 "2017-02-19T21:00:36Z")
“Pass a written test” is obviously a presidential criterion that’s wide open to abuse - as witness, any case in history where _voters_ have had to pass one in order to vote. Here’s one that wouldn’t be: “Presidential candidates must previously have been elected to one of …” perhaps governor, member of Senate or Reps, member of State legislature. Obviously that would have stymied some perfectly reasonable former presidents (Eisenhower being the most recent example) - but then, that slightly weird ‘can’t be born outside the US’ criterion has knocked a whole bunch of people unnecessarily out of the running (hands up, who doesn’t think Arnie would have made a MUCH more sane, not to mention patriotic, POTUS than the current doofus-in-chief) ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/27 "2017-02-20T00:12:54Z")
Even if it were Constitutional and not a land mine of potential interpretations, what’s to stop one of the Senators from slipping the answers to the candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/28 "2017-02-20T00:23:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Interesting view. I’ll admit I’ve always assumed the list was supposed to be exhaustive and Congress didn’t have the power to legislate additional requirements. But you’re correct that the Constitution doesn’t explicitly say so. > > Anyone know if there have been any such attempts by Congress? Or any court rulings on the subject? Would it need to implemented at the congressional level though? It’s my understanding from previous threads recently that there’s no particular requirement for electors from each state to be chosen by vote, that’s just over the years gradually been implemented as the way things are done. Suppose a State legislature made a rule that no presidential candidate who didn’t fulfill \ would be listed on that state’s ballots. Would that not be constitutional? As long as the criterion wasn’t sex/race/other protected class. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/29 "2017-02-20T01:13:48Z")
They already do. It’s called an election. Apparently, we (press & public) failed this time around. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/30 "2017-02-20T01:18:13Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > There are exams for nearly every other government position. Why not one for the most important of all? I’m thinking a test about The workings of government, current international issues, basic knowledge of economics (missing in nearly every candidate unfortunately). Could congress create such a test and implement it or is it fundamentally unconstitutional? Only if voters have to take the same test. ---
**Author:** ![HumbleThinker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@HumbleThinker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumbleThinker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/31 "2017-02-20T14:05:46Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > There are exams for nearly every other government position. Why not one for the most important of all? I’m thinking a test about The workings of government, current international issues, basic knowledge of economics (missing in nearly every candidate unfortunately). Could congress create such a test and implement it or is it fundamentally unconstitutional? > > Edit - whoops meant to put this in great debates. Sorry mods. That would take a constitutional amendment to enact. But beyond that question, I think the better solution for this is _voter_ education so that they do not vote for people who do not demonstrate a basic understanding of civics or who make promises they can’t possibly keep or promise to enact policies that are actually detrimental to the voters’ needs and wants. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/32 "2017-02-25T23:13:14Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I’d think a senate committee could easily put together a non-partisan test of the constitution, civics, and world affairs. Make it multiple choice. Such a test [already exists](https://clep.collegeboard.org/history-and-social-sciences/american-government), but it was made by the College Board, not the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/33 "2017-02-26T02:51:51Z")
China had a similar system for hundreds of years. To achieve any kind of power: political, economic, social, artistic whatever. You had to pass the knowledge exams. In theory, it was a meritocracy, and the route was open to everyone. In practice, it helped if you had rich parents to pay the private tutors, and the support to spend years in education, studying the canon. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/34 "2017-02-26T02:55:47Z")
Maybe it doesn’t have to be an amendment to the Constitution, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the two major parties (and all minor parties, if they’re so inclined) to have restrictions on their national party candidates. “To be eligible to be our nominee, the candidate must demonstrate adequate knowledge of history, civics, etc based on \_\_\_\_\_(insert criteria here) by \_\_\_ date. Also, s/he must release tax returns.” It’s not going to happen, but it wouldn’t be unmanageable to have it happen that way in a perfect world. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/35 "2017-02-26T03:23:40Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > China had a similar system for hundreds of years. To achieve any kind of power: political, economic, social, artistic whatever. You had to pass the knowledge exams. > > In theory, it was a meritocracy, and the route was open to everyone. In practice, it helped if you had rich parents to pay the private tutors, and the support to spend years in education, studying the canon. Except the head of state (the Emperor) didn’t have to pass the exams. So no, it’s not the same at all. It’s actually more like what we have right now. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/36 "2017-02-26T16:10:42Z")
Good thing not, otherwise Obama would have failed. I reference his statement there were 57 States, plus a couple other gems from the 2008 campaign. The point being that no one person would ever pass such a test to the satisfaction of their opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/37 "2017-02-28T03:25:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Except the head of state (the Emperor) didn’t have to pass the exams. So no, it’s not the same at all. It’s actually more like what we have right now. Trump inherited the position? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/38 "2017-02-28T05:00:18Z")
Instead of a knowledge test, I’m thinking anyone who wants to run for President should be required to under go a full psych evaluation, from an independent doctor, with the results being made public. They don’t have to get any particular result to “qualify” to run, they just have to take it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/39 "2017-02-28T13:02:24Z")
Assuming the test were written, then aren’t you adding a literacy requirement for the office? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919/40 "2017-02-28T13:47:25Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Trump inherited the position? No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-potus-have-to-pass-a-basic-civics-world-affairs-knowledge-test/779919.md?page=3)