Law Requires AZ Students to Pass Citizenship Test

High school students in Arizona must meet a new requirement before they graduate: they have to pass the U.S. citizenship test.

The state legislature quickly passed the bill Thursday. Gov. Doug Ducey signed it later that evening, making Arizona the first state to enact such a requirement.

"These are our children, and not long from now, it will be for them to vote on who sits in your chairs and who stands at this podium," Ducey said in his State of the State address Monday.

The test is being pushed nationally by the Joe Foss Institute, which aims to have all 50 states adopt it by 2017 -- the 230th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution.

The institute says legislatures in 15 states are expected to consider it this year.

Some critics question whether the test is the best way to engage students in civics education.

Republican Arizona Senate Majority Leader Steve Yarbrough acknowleged the law was no "silver bullet" but called it "a small step forward."

"I think we need to encourage the people of America to become more aware of the values of America," Yarbrough said.