Arthur Orr and Terri Collins on Jan 30 2017.jpg

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, speak at a news conference at the Alabama State House on Jan. 30, 2017.

(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

Two Alabama lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that would require Alabama students to take the citizenship examination before graduation from high school.

Sen. Arthur Orr and Rep. Terri Collins, both Republicans from Decatur, said the future of a successful government depends on informed citizens.

Orr said surveys have shown an "astounding" deficit of knowledge among adults about how the government works.

According to a news release from the Alabama Civics Education Initiative, which is supporting the legislation, Newsweek asked 1,000 citizens to take the citizenship test in 2011.

Twenty-nine percent could not name the vice president, 73 percent could not say why we fought the Cold War and 44 percent could not define the Bill of Rights.

"(We) certainly need to have as a citizen of this country a working knowledge of our government," Orr said. "It's incumbent on all of us to vote, to participate and to understand federal state and local govenments and how they operate."

Orr sponsored a similar bill last year, but it did not pass.

The bill would require students to correctly answer at least 60 of 100 questions used on the civics portion of the naturalization test immigrants take to become citizens.

Students could take the test as many times as necessary.

"I believe that that is a great way to make sure that we are working through our education system with students who will have a better understanding of their government," Collins said.

Orr said about 15 other states have passed similar legislation.