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Utahns like civics education.
Which may make it easier for state lawmakers this year to require high school students to pass a U.S. citizenship test prior to graduation.
A new poll released Thursday shows broad bipartisan support for draft legislation to do just that.
A majority of respondents to the UtahPolicy.com poll strongly support requiring a civics test for high school graduates. When combined with those who "somewhat support" the proposal, more than eight in 10 Utahns said they would back the proposed graduation requirement.
In September, Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, and Rep. Steven Eliason, R-Sandy, announced that they were partnering on a bill to require students to pass a test given to U.S. citizenship applicants.
"It seems like this is one of those things that shouldn't encounter too much trouble at the Legislature," UtahPolicy.com managing editor Bryan Schott said. "I don't see it running into too many roadblocks."
The poll, conducted by Dan Jones and Associates from Dec. 2 to Dec. 10, surveyed 609 likely Utah voters. It has a margin of error of 3.97 percent.
Schott said that even when broken up along ideological lines, support for requiring students to pass a civics test remained strong. Among Republican, Democratic and Independent voters, a majority of respondents said they supported the proposal.
UtahPolicy.com regularly commissions polls, but Schott said it was the first time he could remember when support was constant across party lines.
"It is a very broad base of support," he said. "It's not a partisan issue, at least according to our polling."
On Thursday, Stephenson said that he did not expect the idea to be so broadly received, but he was pleased by the poll results.
He said the poll results speak to a general concern that American citizens and voters are leaving public education without an understanding of the country they live in.
"It's really essential that we ensure that students have at least a minimal understanding of the American system and our republic," Stephenson said.
The bill's details have not yet been released, but Stephenson said a student would be able to take the test multiple times, if necessary. And the state school board would have authority to determine the number of correct responses required in order to pass the test.
"This is so minimal," he said. "This is not a threshold that will exclude students from graduation."
bwood@sltrib.com A sampling of U.S. citizenship test questions:
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
__ To print money
__ To declare war
__ To create an army
__ To make treaties
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
__ Provide schooling and education
__ Provide protection (police)
__ provide safety (fire departments)
__ Give a driver license
__ Approve zoning and land use
What is the political party of the president now?
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
__ Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
__ You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
__ Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
__ A male citizen of any race (can vote).
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
__ Serve on a jury
__ Vote in a federal election