Give one answer
1. What is the form of government of the United States?
- Republic
- Constitution-based federal republic
- Representative democracy
Up to date as of October 21, 2026
All 128 Civics Test Questions and Answers (2025)
All 128 official civics questions and answers for the 2025 version of the US citizenship test, grouped by topic. The answers are the accepted answers published by USCIS, word for word.
128 questions · up to 20 asked · 12 correct to pass · for Form N-400 filed on or after October 20, 2025
Each question shows every answer USCIS accepts. You only need to give one answer unless the question asks for two, three or five. Words in brackets are optional — “(Thomas) Jefferson” means “Jefferson” is also correct.
How to use this page
Read one topic at a time and say each answer out loud. Use Filters to show only the 65/20 questions or the answers that change, switch to flashcards, or hide the answers to test yourself. Oral — asked by a USCIS officer at your naturalization interview.
American Government
Principles of American Government
65/20Give one answer
2. What is the supreme law of the land?
- (U.S.) Constitution
Give one answer
3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- Forms the government
- Defines powers of government
- Defines the parts of government
- Protects the rights of the people
Give one answer
4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?
- Self-government
- Popular sovereignty
- Consent of the governed
- People should govern themselves
- (Example of) social contract
Give one answer
5. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- Amendments
- The amendment process
Give one answer
6. What does the Bill of Rights protect?
- (The basic) rights of Americans
- (The basic) rights of people living in the United States
65/20Give one answer
7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
- Twenty-seven (27)
Give one answer
8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
- It says America is free from British control.
- It says all people are created equal.
- It identifies inherent rights.
- It identifies individual freedoms.
Give one answer
9. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
- Declaration of Independence
Give two answers
10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
- Equality
- Liberty
- Social contract
- Natural rights
- Limited government
- Self-government
Give one answer
11. The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
- Declaration of Independence
65/20Give one answer
12. What is the economic system of the United States?
- Capitalism
- Free market economy
Give one answer
13. What is the rule of law?
- Everyone must follow the law.
- Leaders must obey the law.
- Government must obey the law.
- No one is above the law.
Give one answer
14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Federalist Papers
- Anti-Federalist Papers
- Virginia Declaration of Rights
- Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
- Mayflower Compact
- Iroquois Great Law of Peace
Give one answer
15. There are three branches of government. Why?
- So one part does not become too powerful
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
Finished Principles of American Government?
System of Government
Give one answer
16. Name the three branches of government.
- Legislative, executive, and judicial
- Congress, president, and the courts
Give one answer
17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
- Executive branch
Give one answer
18. What part of the federal government writes laws?
- (U.S.) Congress
- (U.S. or national) legislature
- Legislative branch
Give one answer
19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- Senate and House (of Representatives)
65/20Give one answer
20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
- Writes laws
- Declares war
- Makes the federal budget
Give one answer
21. How many U.S. senators are there?
- One hundred (100)
Give one answer
22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
- Six (6) years
Depends on your stateGive one answer
23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
to see the answer for where you live.
Answers will vary.
District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. senators.
Give one answer
24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
- Four hundred thirty-five (435)
Give one answer
25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
- Two (2) years
Give one answer
26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
- To more closely follow public opinion
Give one answer
27. How many senators does each state have?
- Two (2)
Give one answer
28. Why does each state have two senators?
- Equal representation (for small states)
- The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Depends on your stateGive one answer
29. Name your U.S. representative.
to see the answer for where you live.
Answers will vary.
Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) representatives in Congress.
30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Current answer: Mike Johnson
Checked on October 21, 2026 · Check the latest answers on USCIS
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Give one answer
31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?
- Citizens of their state
- People of their state
Give one answer
32. Who elects U.S. senators?
- Citizens from their state
Give one answer
33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
- Citizens in their (congressional) district
- Citizens in their district
- People from their (congressional) district
- People in their district
Give one answer
34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
- Citizens from their (congressional) district
Give one answer
35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
- (Because of) the state’s population
- (Because) they have more people
- (Because) some states have more people
65/20Give one answer
36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
- Four (4) years
Give one answer
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?
Current answer: Donald J. Trump
Checked on October 21, 2026 · Check the latest answers on USCIS
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Current answer: JD Vance
Checked on October 21, 2026 · Check the latest answers on USCIS
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.
Give one answer
40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
- The Vice President (of the United States)
Give one answer
41. Name one power of the president.
- Signs bills into law
- Vetoes bills
- Enforces laws
- Commander in Chief (of the military)
- Chief diplomat
- Appoints federal judges
Give one answer
42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
- The President (of the United States)
Give one answer
43. Who signs bills to become laws?
- The President (of the United States)
65/20Give one answer
44. Who vetoes bills?
- The President (of the United States)
Give one answer
45. Who appoints federal judges?
- The President (of the United States)
Give one answer
46. The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
- President (of the United States)
- Cabinet
- Federal departments and agencies
Give one answer
47. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
- Advises the President (of the United States)
Give two answers
48. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
- Attorney General
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Homeland Security
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of War (Defense)
- Vice-President
- Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Administrator of the Small Business Administration
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- Director of National Intelligence
- United States Trade Representative
Give one answer
49. Why is the Electoral College important?
- It decides who is elected president.
- It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
Give one answer
50. What is one part of the judicial branch?
- Supreme Court
- Federal Courts
Give one answer
51. What does the judicial branch do?
- Reviews laws
- Explains laws
- Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
- Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
65/20Give one answer
52. What is the highest court in the United States?
- Supreme Court
Give one answer
53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
- Nine (9)
Give one answer
54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
- Five (5)
Give one answer
55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
- (For) life
- Lifetime appointment
- (Until) retirement
Give one answer
56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
- To be independent (of politics)
- To limit outside (political) influence
Changes with electionsGive one answer
57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Current answer: John G. Roberts, Jr.
Checked on October 21, 2026 · Check the latest answers on USCIS
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.
Give one answer
58. Name one power that is only for the federal government.
- Print paper money
- Mint coins
- Declare war
- Create an army
- Make treaties
- Set foreign policy
Give one answer
59. Name one power that is only for the states.
- Provide schooling and education
- Provide protection (police)
- Provide safety (fire departments)
- Give a driver’s license
- Approve zoning and land use
Give one answer
60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
- (It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
61. Who is the governor of your state now?
to see the answer for where you live.
Answers will vary.
District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.
Depends on your stateGive one answer
62. What is the capital of your state?
to see the answer for where you live.
Answers will vary.
District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.
Finished System of Government?
Rights and Responsibilities
Give one answer
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.
- Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
- A male citizen of any race (can vote).
Give one answer
64. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
- Citizens
- Citizens of the United States
- U.S. citizens
Give three answers
65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
- Freedom of expression
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of assembly
- Freedom to petition the government
- Freedom of religion
- The right to bear arms
65/20Give one answer
66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
- The United States
- The flag
Give two answers
67. Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
- Give up loyalty to other countries
- Defend the (U.S.) Constitution
- Obey the laws of the United States
- Serve in the military (if needed)
- Serve (help, do important work for) the nation (if needed)
- Be loyal to the United States
Give one answer
68. How can people become United States citizens?
- Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment
- Naturalize
- Derive citizenship (under conditions set by Congress)
Give two answers
69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
- Vote
- Run for office
- Join a political party
- Help with a campaign
- Join a civic group
- Join a community group
- Give an elected official your opinion (on an issue)
- Contact elected officials
- Support or oppose an issue or policy
- Write to a newspaper
Give one answer
70. What is one way Americans can serve their country?
- Vote
- Pay taxes
- Obey the law
- Serve in the military
- Run for office
- Work for local, state, or federal government
Give one answer
71. Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
- Required by law
- All people pay to fund the federal government
- Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment)
- Civic duty
Give one answer
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
- Makes the draft fair, if needed
Finished Rights and Responsibilities?
American History
Colonial Period and Independence
Give one answer
73. The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
- Freedom
- Political liberty
- Religious freedom
- Economic opportunity
- Escape persecution
65/20Give one answer
74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
- American Indians
- Native Americans
Give one answer
75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
- Africans
- People from Africa
Give one answer
76. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
- American Revolution
- The (American) Revolutionary War
- War for (American) Independence
Give one answer
77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
- High taxes
- Taxation without representation
- British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses (boarding, quartering)
- They did not have self-government
- Boston Massacre
- Boston Tea Party (Tea Act)
- Stamp Act
- Sugar Act
- Townshend Acts
- Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
65/20Give one answer
78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- (Thomas) Jefferson
Give one answer
79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
- July 4, 1776
Give one answer
80. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
- (Battle of) Bunker Hill
- Declaration of Independence
- Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
- (Battle of) Saratoga
- Valley Forge (Encampment)
- (Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)
Give five answers
81. There were 13 original states. Name five.
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
Give one answer
82. What founding document was written in 1787?
- (U.S.) Constitution
Give one answer
83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
- (James) Madison
- (Alexander) Hamilton
- (John) Jay
- Publius
Give one answer
84. Why were the Federalist Papers important?
- They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution.
- They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.
Give one answer
85. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
- Founded the first free public libraries
- First Postmaster General of the United States
- Helped write the Declaration of Independence
- Inventor
- U.S. diplomat
65/20Give one answer
86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
- “Father of Our Country”
- First president of the United States
- General of the Continental Army
- President of the Constitutional Convention
Give one answer
87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
- Writer of the Declaration of Independence
- Third president of the United States
- Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase)
- First Secretary of State
- Founded the University of Virginia
- Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom
Give one answer
88. James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
- “Father of the Constitution”
- Fourth president of the United States
- President during the War of 1812
- One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
Give one answer
89. Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
- First Secretary of the Treasury
- One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
- Helped establish the First Bank of the United States
- Aide to General George Washington
- Member of the Continental Congress
Finished Colonial Period and Independence?
1800s
Give one answer
90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
- Louisiana Territory
- Louisiana
Give one answer
91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
Give one answer
92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
- The Civil War
Give one answer
93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
- (Battle of) Fort Sumter
- Emancipation Proclamation
- (Battle of) Vicksburg
- (Battle of) Gettysburg
- Sherman’s March
- (Surrender at) Appomattox
- (Battle of) Antietam/Sharpsburg
- Lincoln was assassinated.
65/20Give one answer
94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
- Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
- Saved (or preserved) the Union
- Led the United States during the Civil War
- 16th president of the United States
- Delivered the Gettysburg Address
Give one answer
95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- Freed the slaves
- Freed slaves in the Confederacy
- Freed slaves in the Confederate states
- Freed slaves in most Southern states
Give one answer
96. What U.S. war ended slavery?
- The Civil War
Give one answer
97. What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
- 14th Amendment
Give one answer
98. When did all men get the right to vote?
- After the Civil War
- During Reconstruction
- (With the) 15th Amendment
- 1870
Give one answer
99. Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
- Susan B. Anthony
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
- Sojourner Truth
- Harriet Tubman
- Lucretia Mott
- Lucy Stone
Finished 1800s?
Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
Give one answer
100. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
Give one answer
101. Why did the United States enter World War I?
- Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
- To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia)
- To oppose the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria)
Give one answer
102. When did all women get the right to vote?
- 1920
- After World War I
- (With the) 19th Amendment
Give one answer
103. What was the Great Depression?
- Longest economic recession in modern history
Give one answer
104. When did the Great Depression start?
- The Great Crash (1929)
- Stock market crash of 1929
Give one answer
105. Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
- (Franklin) Roosevelt
Give one answer
106. Why did the United States enter World War II?
- (Bombing of) Pearl Harbor
- Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
- To support the Allied Powers (England, France, and Russia)
- To oppose the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan)
Give one answer
107. Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
- General during World War II
- President at the end of (during) the Korean War
- 34th president of the United States
- Signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Created the Interstate System)
Give one answer
108. Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
- Soviet Union
- USSR
- Russia
Give one answer
109. During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
- Communism
- Nuclear war
Give one answer
110. Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
- To stop the spread of communism
Give one answer
111. Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
- To stop the spread of communism
Give one answer
112. What did the civil rights movement do?
- Fought to end racial discrimination
65/20Give one answer
113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
- Fought for civil rights
- Worked for equality for all Americans
- Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”
Give one answer
114. Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
- To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
65/20Give one answer
115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
- Terrorists attacked the United States
- Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City
- Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
- Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania
Give one answer
116. Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- (Global) War on Terror
- War in Afghanistan
- War in Iraq
Give one answer
117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
- Apache
- Blackfeet
- Cayuga
- Cherokee
- Cheyenne
- Chippewa
- Choctaw
- Creek
- Crow
- Hopi
- Huron
- Inupiat
- Lakota
- Mohawk
- Mohegan
- Navajo
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Pueblo
- Seminole
- Seneca
- Shawnee
- Sioux
- Teton
- Tuscarora
For a complete list of tribes, please visit bia.gov.
Give one answer
118. Name one example of an American innovation.
- Light bulb
- Automobile (cars, internal combustion engine)
- Skyscrapers
- Airplane
- Assembly line
- Landing on the moon
- Integrated circuit (IC)
Finished Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information?
Symbols And Holidays
Symbols
Give one answer
119. What is the capital of the United States?
- Washington, D.C.
Give one answer
120. Where is the Statue of Liberty?
- New York (Harbor)
- Liberty Island
Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).
65/20Give one answer
121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
- (Because there were) 13 original colonies
- (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
Give one answer
122. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
- (Because there is) one star for each state
- (Because) each star represents a state
- (Because there are) 50 states
Give one answer
123. What is the name of the national anthem?
- The Star-Spangled Banner
Give one answer
124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
- Out of many, one
- We all become one
Finished Symbols?
Holidays
Give one answer
125. What is Independence Day?
- A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
- The country’s birthday
65/20Give three answers
126. Name three national U.S. holidays.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Give one answer
127. What is Memorial Day?
- A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
Give one answer
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)
Finished Holidays?
Answers that change
Some answers change because of elections or appointments. You must answer with the name of the official serving at the time of your interview.
Checked on October 21, 2026 · Check the latest answers on USCIS
Answers for your state
Four answers depend on where you live: your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital. Choose your state to see them.
65/20 special consideration
If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 questions marked 65/20. The officer asks you 10 of them, and you must answer at least 6 correctly. You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice.
Ready to test yourself?
Quick Answers
How many questions are on the 2025 civics test?
There are 128 questions on the official list. A USCIS officer asks you up to 20 of them at your naturalization interview, and you must answer at least 12 correctly to pass.
Which version of the civics test will I take?
You take the 2025 version if your Form N-400 was filed on or after October 20, 2025. If it was filed before that date, you take the 2008 version, which has 100 questions.
Do I have to give the exact answer from the list?
USCIS says there may be other correct answers, but encourages you to answer using the answers on the official list. Words in brackets are optional.
Which answers change?
The names of the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice change with elections and appointments. Your U.S. senators, representative, governor and state capital depend on where you live.
What is the 65/20 special consideration?
If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 questions marked with an asterisk. You will be asked 10 of them and must answer at least 6 correctly.
Questions and answers: USCIS, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), M-1778 (09/25). Milestone is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with USCIS.
Up to date as of October 21, 2026: checked against the official USCIS civics test questions and answers.