Sponsor
Wesley Hunt
Representative · R-TX
Representative · R-TX
The bill increases transparency and sets knowledge-based eligibility standards for Members and committee service, but at the cost of creating new hurdles that can delay or remove representation, invite partisan manipulation, expose individuals' records, and impose administrative costs.
All U.S. residents (including taxpayers) gain free online access to a civics exam, making basic information about U.S. government and history more widely available.
Voters and the public gain clearer, more verifiable information about who has passed a uniform civics exam (a public database and certificates), increasing transparency about qualifications for office.
Constituents and Congress benefit from Members who must demonstrate baseline knowledge of U.S. history and constitutional topics before serving on committees, which could improve committee deliberations and oversight quality.
Voters and taxpayers may face vacancies and loss of representation when elected or appointed individuals lose their seat for failing the exam within two weeks, potentially triggering special elections and disenfranchising constituents.
Voters, candidates, and Members risk partisan manipulation because Congress controls question selection and passing scores, creating incentives to shape the exam to advantage one party and politicize who may serve or sit on committees.
Constituents may lose effective representation if Members fail the new qualification hurdle and are delayed or blocked from committee service.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates decennial civics exams Members must pass to be seated and to serve on committees; exams are developed and administered by congressional officers and take effect after a specified constitutional amendment is ratified.
Official title: To implement the proposed constitutional amendment requiring Members of Congress to demonstrate competence in American civics.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Wesley Hunt · Last progress February 9, 2026
Requires Congress to create decennial civics examinations that Members must pass to be seated and to serve on committees. Each "census term" (every 10 years) the House and Senate jointly prepare a 100-question pool and an approved 25-question exam; failure to pass within a short window prevents seating or committee assignment and creates a vacancy if not remedied. The exams are administered by congressional clerks, made available online to the public, and take effect only after ratification of the specified constitutional amendment.