Citizenship

Let's have it straight from the shoulder. I'm a failure. State School Superintendent Joseph Shilling says so, and who am I to argue? Yes,those Maryland Functional Citizenship Test scores just did me in.As part of the Maryland Schools Performance Program package, the state insists that four functional tests -- reading, writing, math and citizenship -- be passed en route to a high school diploma. For schoolsystems that fail to maintain a satisfactory rate of passage among their ninth-graders, the specter of a takeover by state remediation experts looms in the distance.

A 10-year odyssey to become an American came to a ceremonial end last night for Matthew Ward at the Flag Day celebrations at Fort McHenry. The Jarrettsville youth, who was born in Lithuania, entered the United States at the age of 3 months. But before he could be declared an American, he and his adoptive mother had to get through what she called a "quagmire of paperwork." With assistance from a congresswoman, he took the oath March 10. "I just felt that Flag Day was a patriotic way to celebrate the event," said the mother, Bernadette Ward, wearing an American-flag T-shirt and arranging food platters at the celebration.

MOSCOW - A billionaire partner of the former Yukos Oil executive Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky has been granted Israeli citizenship as prosecutors continue to pursue their aggressive investigation of the oil giant. Leonid Nevzlin, 43, named by Forbes Magazine as Russia's 11th-richest person, left Moscow two months ago, not long after he was questioned by Russian prosecutors in connection with the Yukos case. He was made an Israeli citizen Sunday. One Israeli opposition legislator, Collette Avital, questioned the speed with which Nevzlin, who is Jewish, won citizenship under Israel's right-of-return law. "Suddenly, overnight, he became a dedicated Zionist and he got citizenship in a speedy manner and we have to ask why?"

WASHINGTON -- Passing the test to become a U.S. citizen will soon require more than knowing the number of states or Supreme Court justices. Instead of memorizing facts and details about American government and history, new immigrants will be assessed on their grasp of the nation's ideals.

Three weeks after a Howard County murder verdict was thrown into question by a juror's lack of U.S. citizenship, court officials and a state legislator say they are working to make sure the scenario is not repeated. Jury Commissioner Steve Merson has begun reviewing basic requirements for jury service during his morning talk to prospective jurors. At least one Howard prosecutor has added qualification inquiries to questions she wants judges to ask during voir dire, the process of interviewing prospective jurors in a courtroom.

Washington -- Ice dancer Tanith Belbin, who has a shot for a medal in the coming Winter Games, got her holiday wishes and then some granted when Congress approved an amendment just in time to allow her to gain citizenship and represent the United States with partner Ben Agosto. Belbin and Agosto are considered medal contenders based partly on their silver in the world championships in Moscow earlier this year. It was the first medal in that event for the United States in 20 years at the worlds, and the highest finish for an American ice dancing team in 30 years.

It's been two years since Michelle Murphy lost her son, but the tragic circumstances of his death have become no easier to bear. Army Reserve Spc. Kendell K. Frederick, a native of Trinidad, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq while off base to have fingerprints taken for his U.S. citizenship application. While fighting for a country that wasn't yet his, Frederick - a 21-year-old from Randallstown - had spent a more than a year battling red tape to become a citizen, said his mother.

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's government has begun to campaign for an amendment to the country's constitution that would allow Mexicans living in the United States to retain Mexican nationality rights even when they adopt U.S. citizenship.The double nationality amendment, as it is known, aims to remove legal hindrances that have discouraged Mexicans living legally in the United States, estimated to number 2 million to 3 million, from naturalizing and registering as voters there, officials said.

WASHINGTON -- Can you name one of the American forefathers who wrote the Federalist Papers? Or cite the number of constitutional amendments? Those are among the questions on a redesigned citizenship test unveiled yesterday after seven years of laborious research and an expenditure of $6.5 million. If you answered James Madison, Alexander Hamilton or John Jay to the first question and 27 to the second you might be on your way to a passing score. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, will begin conducting the new tests in October 2008.

Jean Harbor has moved a major step closer to playing for the U.S. National team in the 1994 World Cup.The Maryland Bays forward, who leads the American Professional Soccer League in scoring, has received the clearance he needs from the Nigerian Soccer Federation to seek spot on the United States squad."