H.J.Res. 146 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Members of Congress to demonstrate competence in American civics and the U.S. government system. Under this proposal, Congress would create a civics examination every ten years (aligned with the census), which would be administered at no cost to test-takers and would be published in the Congressional Record. While candidates ideally would pass the exam before taking office, the amendment allows newly elected or appointed Members who haven't yet passed to demonstrate competence afterward, either through the standard exam or an alternative method approved by Congress. The proposal contains no specific funding amounts or enforcement deadlines beyond the ten-year examination cycle. Like all constitutional amendments, this resolution would require approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures to become law.
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