# What questions would YOU put on a mandatory competency exam for politicians? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 17, 2022, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520 "2022-05-17T00:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/1 "2022-05-17T00:55:13Z")
A [Twitter follower](https://twitter.com/cpoliticditto/status/1526363088932552704?t=UU2wl6bj9p1Hc4XWy3WjLQ&s=19) of mine asked this and I immediately thought it a perfect question for the Dope. Assume that this test applies only for US House, Senate, and Presidential elections. Joke replies are always welcome, but I would like some serious thought as well to the question. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/2 "2022-05-17T00:57:57Z")
If there were to be a mandatory exam for such offices, I’d be comfortable with the politicians having to pass the same citizenship test immigrants must pass to be naturalized. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/3 "2022-05-17T00:58:19Z")
For starters, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/4 "2022-05-17T01:00:00Z")
If the government spends 1 Trillion dollars, how much is that for each citizen? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/5 "2022-05-17T01:01:07Z")
Given the age of some (most) of these clowns, I wouldn’t mind tests of the man-woman-person-camera-TV variety once past 65 years of age, 70 at the latest. These tests should be held 1 year before the candidates (re)election day. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/6 "2022-05-17T01:02:32Z")
I’d start with a little basic math. Which number is larger, 232 or 306? Is 81 million more or less than 74 million? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/7 "2022-05-17T01:04:38Z")
I would divide such a test into two parts: One to test for competency, the other to force them to publicize their stance on issues. First part of the test would include questions about the Constitution, civil, criminal law, global affairs, domestic affairs, history, etc. Second part would be things like “how many genders are there?” “in which circumstances, and trimesters, should abortion be allowed?” “stance on gay marriage,” “why do you believe your religion (if they are religious,)” etc. There would be no right-wrong answers per se, but these would be published for all to see. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/8 "2022-05-17T01:06:25Z")
Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Republican Party or any other organization that seeks the overthrow of the federal government? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/9 "2022-05-17T16:38:12Z")
Not at all original to me, but some say that the desire to hold elected office ought to be an automatic disqualified! 😉 I’m not sure of any specific question, but I’d expect some list of past work/education experiences relative to both the subject mater and functions involved. Sure, it is POSSIBLE that someone entirely lacking in such experience might be a good candidate for a particular office, but my HOPE is that there would be some explicable basis for their qualifications, other than just persona and glibness. Some of the basic experiences would involve participation in complex organizations, pursuing and achieving longterm goals, and sensitivity to/work with persons different than yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/10 "2022-05-17T16:55:46Z")
What are the powers given and the duties assigned for the office you are running for? ---
**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:** [May 17, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/11 "2022-05-17T17:12:01Z")
1. Describe the main points of each article of the Constitution. 2. Describe how the budget process works including: all sources of revenue, how the budget is created and followed, and how money is paid out. 3. Ignoring stare decisis, what three SCOTUS rulings would you overturn? Note: although a question more for confirmation hearings for Justices, I think this would give a good indicator of the politician’s priorities when appointing/confirming Justices. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/12 "2022-05-17T18:13:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > If the government spends 1 Trillion dollars, how much is that for each citizen? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mKAnk2XVnDE/maxresdefault.jpg "It was my Understanding that there Would be no Math……..") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKAnk2XVnDE) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/13 "2022-05-18T02:21:50Z")
“Is the Earth: a) purty much 6,000 years old, or b) 4 billion years old” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/14 "2022-05-18T04:17:07Z")
For Representatives, - “Do you have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature?” - “Are you at least twenty-five years old?” - “Have you been a citizen of the United States for at least the past seven years?” - “Do you currently live in the State you are running for election in?” - “If you win your election, will you resign from any other federal office?” For Senators, - “Are you at least thirty years old?” - “Have you been a citizen of the United States for at least the past nine years?” - “Do you currently live in the State you are running for election in?” - “If you win your election, will you resign from any other federal office?” For President, - “Are you a natural born citizen?” - “Are you at least thirty-five years old?” - “Have you been a resident within the United States for at least the past fourteen years?” - "Will you take the following oath or affirmation? ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’ Any other question would be unconstitutional, except that these could be rewritten to say as of the day the term starts, and for representatives the qualifications could be enumerated. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/15 "2022-05-18T14:27:02Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > “Is the Earth: a) purty much 6,000 years old, or b) 4 billion years old” Translation: “Which subgroup of your constituents do you want to alienate?” ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/16 "2022-05-18T14:40:41Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Not at all original to me, but some say that the desire to hold elected office ought to be an automatic disqualified! 😉 Agreed! Of course, that means people would lie, but then, isn’t the general feeling that politicians lie all the time? At least we’d know that without qualification or reservation right from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/17 "2022-05-18T15:16:01Z")
This is a useful approach, and I believe that if we administered such a quiz, and required that they had no help in answering, we would eliminate a percentage of candidates. Not that they would not qualify based on the constitutional requirements, but that there would be those who would get the answer wrong because they are unable to understand the questions. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/18 "2022-05-18T15:23:40Z")
The bigger issue is who exactly is going to grade their responses to this quiz. A lot of Republican voters have already shown that they no longer care if their candidates say the quiet parts out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/19 "2022-05-18T15:24:25Z")
What is a Type 1 error? What is a Type 2 error? Give examples. What is the purpose of the United States? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520/20 "2022-05-18T17:21:41Z")
The idea being that there are ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ answers. If you answer ‘a’, you don’t get to politician. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-you-put-on-a-mandatory-competency-exam-for-politicians/964520.md?page=2)