1.
What is the form of government of the United States?
Republic • Constitution-based federal republic ...
All 128 Civics Questions
Official 2025 USCIS naturalization test questions and answers. Questions marked with ★ are part of the 65/20 exemption.
Principles of American Government
View category →2.
What is the supreme law of the land?★
The Constitution
3.
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Forms the government • Defines powers of government ...
4.
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
Self-government • Popular sovereignty ...
5.
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments • The amendment process
6.
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
The basic rights of Americans • The basic rights of people living in the United States
7.
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?★
Twenty-seven (27)
8.
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says America is free from British control • It says all people are created equal ...
9.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
10.
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality • Liberty ...
11.
The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
Declaration of Independence
12.
What is the economic system of the United States?★
Capitalism • Free market economy
13.
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law • Leaders must obey the law ...
14.
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Declaration of Independence • Articles of Confederation ...
15.
There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful • Checks and balances ...
System of Government
View category →16.
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial • Congress, President, and the courts
17.
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
18.
What part of the federal government writes laws?
Congress • The legislature ...
19.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives
20.
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.★
Writes laws • Declares war ...
21.
How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100)
22.
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years
23.
Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
Answers will vary by state
24.
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
25.
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years
26.
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion
27.
How many senators does each state have?
Two (2)
28.
Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation for small states • The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
29.
Name your U.S. representative.
Answers will vary by district
30.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?★
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current answer
31.
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state • People of their state
32.
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
33.
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their congressional district • People in their district
34.
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their congressional district
35.
Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
Because of the state's population • Because some states have more people
36.
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?★
Four (4) years
37.
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
Because of the 22nd Amendment • To keep the president from becoming too powerful
38.
What is the name of the President of the United States now?★
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current answer
39.
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?★
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current answer
40.
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President
41.
Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law • Vetoes bills ...
42.
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President
43.
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President
44.
Who vetoes bills?★
The President
45.
Who appoints federal judges?
The President
46.
The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
President • Cabinet ...
47.
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President
48.
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of State • Secretary of Defense ...
49.
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president • It provides a compromise between popular election and congressional selection
50.
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court • Federal Courts
51.
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws • Explains laws ...
52.
What is the highest court in the United States?★
Supreme Court
53.
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
54.
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5)
55.
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
For life • Lifetime appointment ...
56.
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent of politics • To limit outside political influence
57.
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current answer
58.
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money • Mint coins ...
59.
Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education • Provide protection (police) ...
60.
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
61.
Who is the governor of your state now?★
Answers will vary by state
62.
What is the capital of your state?
Answers will vary by state
Rights and Responsibilities
View category →63.
There are four amendments to the U.S. 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 ...
64.
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens • U.S. citizens
65.
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of expression • Freedom of speech ...
66.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?★
The United States • The flag
67.
Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries • Defend the Constitution ...
68.
How can people become United States citizens?
Be born in the United States • Naturalize ...
69.
What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote • Run for office ...
70.
What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Vote • Pay taxes ...
71.
Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law • All people pay to fund the federal government ...
72.
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law • Civic duty ...
Colonial Period and Independence
View category →73.
The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Freedom • Political liberty ...
74.
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?★
American Indians • Native Americans
75.
What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans • People from Africa
76.
What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution • Revolutionary War ...
77.
Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
High taxes • Taxation without representation ...
78.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?★
Thomas Jefferson
79.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
80.
The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
Battle of Bunker Hill • Declaration of Independence ...
81.
There were 13 original states. Name five.
New Hampshire • Massachusetts ...
82.
What founding document was written in 1787?
The Constitution
83.
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison • Alexander Hamilton ...
84.
Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the Constitution • They supported passing the Constitution
85.
Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Founded the first free public libraries • First Postmaster General ...
86.
George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.★
Father of Our Country • First president of the United States ...
87.
Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence • Third president ...
88.
James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
Father of the Constitution • Fourth president ...
89.
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury • One of the writers of the Federalist Papers ...
1800s
View category →90.
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana Territory • Louisiana
91.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812 • Mexican-American War ...
92.
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
93.
The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
Battle of Fort Sumter • Emancipation Proclamation ...
94.
Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.★
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) • Saved the Union ...
95.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves • Freed slaves in the Confederacy ...
96.
What U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War
97.
What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States are U.S. citizens?
14th Amendment
98.
When did all men get the right to vote?
After the Civil War • During Reconstruction ...
99.
Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony • Elizabeth Cady Stanton ...
Recent American History
View category →100.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I • World War II ...
101.
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. civilian ships • To support the Allied Powers ...
102.
When did all women get the right to vote?
1920 • After World War I ...
103.
What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
104.
When did the Great Depression start?
The Great Crash (1929) • Stock market crash of 1929
105.
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt • FDR
106.
Why did the United States enter World War II?
Bombing of Pearl Harbor • Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor ...
107.
Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II • President at the end of the Korean War ...
108.
Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union • USSR ...
109.
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism • Nuclear war
110.
Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
111.
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism
112.
What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
113.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.★
Fought for civil rights • Worked for equality for all Americans ...
114.
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
115.
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?★
Terrorists attacked the United States • Terrorists took over planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center ...
116.
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Global War on Terror • War in Afghanistan ...
117.
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Apache • Blackfeet ...
118.
Name one example of an American innovation.
Light bulb • Automobile ...
Symbols
View category →119.
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
120.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor • Liberty Island ...
121.
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?★
Because there were 13 original colonies • Because the stripes represent the original colonies
122.
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because there is one star for each state • Because each star represents a state ...
123.
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
124.
The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?
Out of many, one • We all become one
Holidays
View category →125.
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence from Britain • The country's birthday
126.
Name three national U.S. holidays.★
New Year's Day • Martin Luther King Jr. Day ...
127.
What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
128.
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people in the U.S. military • A holiday to honor people who have served in the U.S. military
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