Conservative group Moms for Liberty wants all North Carolina public high school students to pass the same U.S. citizenship exam that’s given to immigrants before graduating.

The group focused on the push Wednesday during a news conference at the state legislative building. Brooke Weiss, who leads the Mecklenburg County chapter of Moms for Liberty, said students in North Carolina don’t get enough civics education to be informed citizens.

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"People are taking an oath of office that have never read the Constitution and don’t even know what it is," Weiss said. "So every American should be able to answer the same questions that we ask immigrants to answer."

Moms for Liberty has become more active in swing states — particularly in North Carolina. It plans to spend several million dollars on ads in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin, where it hopes to push its platform.

In addition to seeking more civics education in high schools, Moms for Liberty is asking North Carolina lawmakers for changes in schools to improve student performance and guarantee parental rights.

The group is also pushing lawmakers to take LGBTQIA+ issues out of all K-12 classrooms. The group believes public schools are indoctrinating students, pushing what a "woke agenda."

Moms for Liberty started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the group protested against mask requirements at school board meetings.

Despite the group's conservative leanings, Weiss said the group tries to work with people of all political backgrounds. "I think that’s something that’s lost," Weiss said. "We’re accused of being right-wing 'Nazi lunatics.' We sit down with a lot of Democrats."

Moms for Liberty also wants to ban from the classroom all discussion of systemic racism or the existence of LGBTQIA+ people. Their request has resonated with the right wing of the Republican party, including with Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor, who spoke to the group on Wednesday.

"We're standing up for what's right and saying that everything has its place," Robinson said. "And in our schools, there are certain subjects and certain things that have no place. Children are not supposed to be learning about adult topics."

Changes to lessons taught in public schools is a frequent topic for Robinson.

"We’re dealing with a simple truth and the simple truth is this — the school system does not own our children," Robinson said. "The government does not own our children. Children are of their mothers and of their fathers."

Robinson's participation was notable in that he doesn't make himself as available to the media as frequently as other top elected officials in the state, and he rarely hosts or participates in press conferences. On Wednesday, after taking photos with supporters, Robinson declined reporters' requests for comments.

What is the US citizenship test?

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, applicants for U.S. citizenship will be asked 10 questions out of a list of 100 options. People 65 or older or those who have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years are not required to study all 100 questions. Some of the 100 questions are as simple as:

  • Name two national U.S. holidays
    • When do we celebrate Independence Day?
      • Where is the Statue of Liberty?
        • What is the capital of the United States?
          • Name one state that borders Canada
            • What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
              • What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

                Other questions might be more difficult to some citizens.

                Could you pass the US citizenship test?

                Below, find 10 random questions from the official test. Try to answer them, and check your answers at the bottom of this story.

                1. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
                  1. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
                    1. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
                      1. When was the Constitution written?
                        1. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
                          1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
                            1. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
                              1. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
                                1. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
                                  1. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

                                    Answers to U.S. citizenship test

                                    1. Missouri (River) or Mississippi (River)
                                      1. Japan, Germany and Italy
                                        1. Franklin Roosevelt
                                          1. 1787
                                            1. We the People
                                              1. 27
                                                1. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
                                                  1. Checks and balances or separation of powers
                                                    1. Speaker of the House
                                                      1. April 15

                                                        CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of recent media interviews North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has granted. In recent weeks, Robinson has taken part in interviews conducted by several media outlets in the state, including WTKF-FM, WTKK-FM, WBT-FM and the Smoky Mountain News.