Official Language
AP US Government and Politics
Critical Analysis
Based on the map above, how many official languages are there in the U.S.?
Why do you think the U.S. doesn't have an official language?
Over half the states in the U.S. have made English an official language. Although there are no laws stating that English is the official language at the federal level, 31 states have their own laws proclaiming it as the official language on the state level, which usually just means it has to be used for government communications. Explain how this illustrates the concept of federalism?
Three states have other official languages in addition to English. Hawaii recognized Hawaiian Pidgin English as an official language in 2015. Since then, South Dakota made Sioux an official language, and Alaska added more than 20 indigenous languages. What is the official language of your state?
What do you think are the three most commonly spoken languages in the U.S.? (see below)*
What does the map of non-English usage in the United states (below*) indicate is the most and the least all-English region of the United States?
In 2017, the 115th Congress introduced a bill to make English the official language of the United States. Why do you think it did not pass?
If you had to choose between having 0 official languages like Australia, or having 10 or more official languages like India, which do you think would lead to more stability?
If you were King (POTUS, Congress, and SCOTUS) for a day Explain whether you would make English the official language of the US.
If Pig Latin became the official language of the U.S. I would not be happy. I wouldn't be thrilled if any of the following languages became our official language either: Swampy Cree, Crimean Tartar, or Scottish Gaelic. Here is a list of some of the world's languages. List the worst possible official language of the U.S. in the comments section below.
Learning Extension
Read this ACLU backgrounder on English as the official language of the US.
Action Extension
Share your position on America having an official language on social media. Be sure to inform your followers about the (lack of an) official language of the U.S.