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From the Desk of the
Criminal Justice Advisor

CONSTITUTION EXAMS FOR FALL 1999

 




University Testing Office
346 Fell Hall
Illinois State University


	C O N S T I T U T I O N    T E S T    I N F O R M A T I O N

ALL TESTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR 10:00A.M. - FH 112

	Sept. 13 (M)	Oct.  4 (M)	Nov.   1(M)	Dec.   2(R)
	Sept. 20 (M)	Oct.  7 (R)	Nov.   4(R)	Dec.   6(M)
	Sept. 27 (M)	Oct. 11 (M)	Nov.   8(M)	Dec.   9(R)
                        Oct. 14 (R)	Nov.  11(R)	Dec.  13(M)
			Oct. 18 (M)	Nov.  15(M)	Dec.  16(R)
			Oct. 21 (R)	Nov.  18(R)	Dec.  20(M)
		  	Oct. 25 (M)	Nov.  22(M)
		  	Oct. 28 (R)	Nov.  29(M)
THE CONSTITUTION EXAM MAY BE TAKEN ONLY ONCE PER DAY.
THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS ONE DAY BEFORE THE TEST DATE except in the event that room capacity has been reached prior to that time.

REGISTRATION:
There is a $3.50 test fee, due at the time of registration. If payment is made by check, students can register directly with the University Testing Office. If payment is cash, students must pick up a voucher at the UTO, take the voucher to the Cashier's Office for payment, then return to the UTO to register.

Due to space limitations, there is a limited number of students who can be tested on any test date. If additional administrations are necessary, the dates will be posted in the UTO.

In order to be admitted to the testing room you will need to present a picture ID such as your I.S.U. student ID or driver's license.

TEST STRUCTURE:
There is a total of 60 questions on the test: 35 on the U.S. Constitution and 25 on the Illinois Constitution. A passing score for each of the two parts of the test is required. Minimum scores are 21 for the U.S. section and 15 for the Illinois section. Students who do not attain the minimum score for one of the sections may retest only on that section. The length of the testing time is 1 hour and 10 minutes.

STUDY MATERIALS
Copies of the Handbook of Illinois Government, issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, are available at the University Testing Office at no cost. They are available to students when registering for the test. Due to a LIMITED supply, we request that those who receive books pass them on to other students or return them to our office when finished with them. The Handbook contains copies of both the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions.

The text book that best covers the concepts covered in the U.S. Constitution examination is Understanding the Constitution, Corwin, E.S. and Peltason, J.W. -- Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 9th edition. This book can be found in the Reserve Room of Milner Library and copies are usually available at the book stores. A Study Guide to accompany the text is available in the UTO for 25 cents.

Study guides for the Illinois Constitution can be obtained for $1.00 at the UTO. The Explanation of the Illinois Constitution is by Thomas D. Wilson of the Dept. of Political Science. These aids are provided by the UTO for the cost of printing.

Illinois law provides that:


American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag, shall be taught in all public schools and other educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. No student shall receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon such subjects (Illinois Revised Statues, Chapter 122, Section 27-3).



Acomplete POS 105 (American Government and Politics) or pass the Illinois State University Constitution Examination before graduating. ThoThis law is the reason that all ISU students must either successfullyse who elect to take the Constitution Examination in order to meet this requirement take upon themselves the responsibility to provide, through their own effort and study, an equivalent to the instruction mandated by the state legislature. The examination offered by the University Testing Office is designed to test for a significant level of achievement. Obviously, then, students who elect to take the examination are taking on a substantial task. The information offered by the UTO should help you plan your studies, and you should feel at ease to ask questions.

Each student is the best judge of when he or she should schedule the examination. Still, we hope that you will consider taking the test early in your college career, before confronting the pressures and demands of upper-level courses. If, however, you are a senior and hope to graduate in May, there are strong reasons for taking the test as early in the year as possible. The senior year is full and demanding, and seniors often find themselves having difficulty accomplishing the many things which finishing courses and beginning a career or planning further education require. That is not the time to take on the additional task of studying the U.S. and Illinois Constitution. In addition, tests scores must be determined, evaluated, and the results recorded on transcripts in order for students to graduate. This takes time, and difficulties can emerge if the exam is not taken and passed sufficiently early. Finally, the exam is not easy, and students should allow time to re-take the exam, if necessary, or to take POS 105 as an alternative.



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