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(rev. 08/21)
Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)
The 100 civics (history and government) questions
and answers for the naturalization test are listed
below. The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS
Ofcer will ask the applicant up to 10 of the 100
civics questions. An applicant must answer 6 out of
10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of
the naturalization test.
On the naturalization test, some answers may
change because of elections or appointments. As
you study for the test, make sure that you know the
most current answers to these questions. Answer
these questions with the name of the ofcial who
is serving at the time of your eligibility interview
with USCIS. The USCIS Ofcer will not accept an
incorrect answer.
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Although USCIS is aware that there may be
additional correct answers to the 100 civics
questions, applicants are encouraged to respond
to the civics questions using the answers provided
below.
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a
legal permanent resident of the United States for
20 or more years, you may study just the questions
that have been marked with an asterisk.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
▪ the Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ denes the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
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3. Theideaofself-governmentisintherst
three words of the Constitution. What
are these words?
▪ We the People
4. What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
5. Whatdowecallthersttenamendments
to the Constitution?
▪ the Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the
First Amendment?*
▪ speech
▪ religion
▪ assembly
▪ press
▪ petition the government
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7. How many amendments does the
Constitution have?
▪ twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of
Independence do?
▪ announced our independence (from Great
Britain)
▪ declared our independence (from Great
Britain)
▪ said that the United States is free (from
Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of
Independence?
▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
▪ You can practice any religion, or not
practice a religion.
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11. What is the economic system in the
United States?*
▪ capitalist economy
▪ market economy
12. 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.
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the
government.*
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial
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14. What stops one branch of government
from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
▪ the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S.
Congress?*
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ one hundred (100)
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19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many
years?
▪ six (6)
20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators
now?*
▪ 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.]
21. The House of Representatives has how
many voting members?
▪ four hundred thirty-ve (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how
many years?
▪ two (2)
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23. Name your U.S. Representative.
▪ 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.]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
▪ all people of the state
25. Why do some states have more
Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
▪ four (4)
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27. In what month do we vote for President?*
▪ November
28. What is the name of the President of the
United States now?*
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for
the name of the President of the United
States.
29. What is the name of the Vice President of
the United States now?
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for
the name of the Vice President of the
United States.
30. If the President can no longer serve, who
becomes President?
▪ the Vice President
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31. If both the President and the Vice
President can no longer serve, who
becomes President?
▪ the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the
military?
▪ the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
▪ the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
▪ the President
35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
▪ advises the President
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36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
▪ Secretary of Agriculture
▪ Secretary of Commerce
▪ Secretary of Defense
▪ 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
▪ Attorney General
▪ Vice President
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37. What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the
Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United
States?
▪ the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme
Court?
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for
the number of justices on the Supreme
Court.
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United
States now?
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates
for the name of the Chief Justice of the
United States.
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41. Under our Constitution, some powers
belong to the federal government. What
is one power of the federal government?
▪ to print money
▪ to declare war
▪ to create an army
▪ to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers
belong to the states. What is one power of
the states?
▪ provide schooling and education
▪ provide protection (police)
▪ provide safety (re departments)
▪ give a driver’s license
▪ approve zoning and land use
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
▪ Answers will vary. [District of Columbia
residents should answer that D.C. does not
have a Governor.]
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44. What is the capital of your state?*
▪ 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.]
45. What are the two major political parties
in the United States?*
▪ Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the
President now?
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for
the political party of the President.
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the
House of Representatives now?
▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates
for the name of the Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
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C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. There are four amendments to the
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).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for
United States citizens?*
▪ serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election
50. Name one right only for United States
citizens.
▪ vote in a federal election
▪ run for federal ofce
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51. What are two 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
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say
the Pledge of Allegiance?
▪ the United States
▪ the ag
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53. What is one promise you make when you
become a United States citizen?
▪ give up loyalty to other countries
▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the
United States
▪ obey the laws of the United States
▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
▪ serve (do important work for) the nation
(if needed)
▪ be loyal to the United States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for
President?*
▪ eighteen (18) and older
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55. What are two ways that Americans can
participate in their democracy?
▪ vote
▪ join a political party
▪ help with a campaign
▪ join a civic group
▪ join a community group
▪ give an elected ofcial your opinion on an
issue
▪ call Senators and Representatives
▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or
policy
▪ run for ofce
▪ write to a newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in
federal income tax forms?*
▪ April 15
57. When must all men register for the
Selective Service?
▪ at age eighteen (18)
▪ between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
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AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to
America?
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the
Europeans arrived?
▪ American Indians
▪ Native Americans
60. What group of people was taken to
America and sold as slaves?
▪ Africans
▪ people from Africa
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61. WhydidthecolonistsghttheBritish?
▪ because of high taxes (taxation without
representation)
▪ because the British army stayed in their
houses (boarding, quartering)
▪ because they didn’t have self-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of
Independence?
▪ (Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of
Independence adopted?
▪ July 4, 1776
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64. There were 13 original states. Name
three.
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Massachusetts
▪ Rhode Island
▪ Connecticut
▪ New York
▪ New Jersey
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Delaware
▪ Maryland
▪ Virginia
▪ North Carolina
▪ South Carolina
▪ Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional
Convention?
▪ The Constitution was written.
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the
Constitution.
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66. When was the Constitution written?
▪ 1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the
passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name
one of the writers.
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is
famous for?
▪ U.S. diplomat
▪ oldest member of the Constitutional
Convention
▪ rst Postmaster General of the United
States
▪ writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
▪ started the rst free libraries
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69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
▪ (George) Washington
70. WhowastherstPresident?*
▪ (George) Washington
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy
from France in 1803?
▪ the Louisiana Territory
▪ Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States
in the 1800s.
▪ War of 1812
▪ Mexican-American War
▪ Civil War
▪ Spanish-American War
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73. Name the U.S. war between the North and
the South.
▪ the Civil War
▪ the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil
War.
▪ slavery
▪ economic reasons
▪ states’ rights
75. What was one important thing that
Abraham Lincoln did?*
▪ freed the slaves (Emancipation
Proclamation)
▪ saved (or preserved) the Union
▪ led the United States during the Civil War
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76. 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
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ fought for women’s rights
▪ fought for civil rights
C: Recent American History and Other
Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States
in the 1900s.*
▪ World War I
▪ World War II
▪ Korean War
▪ Vietnam War
▪ (Persian) Gulf War
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79. Who was President during World War I?
▪ (Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great
Depression and World War II?
▪ (Franklin) Roosevelt
81. WhodidtheUnitedStatesghtinWorld
War II?
▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was
a general. What war was he in?
▪ World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main
concern of the United States?
▪ Communism
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84. What movement tried to end racial
discrimination?
▪ civil rights (movement)
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
▪ fought for civil rights
▪ worked for equality for all Americans
86. What major event happened on
September 11, 2001, in the United States?
▪ Terrorists attacked the United States.
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87. Name one American Indian tribe in the
United States.
[USCIS Ofcers will be supplied with a list
of federally recognized American Indian
tribes.]
▪ Cherokee
▪ Navajo
▪ Sioux
▪ Chippewa
▪ Choctaw
▪ Pueblo
▪ Apache
▪ Iroquois
▪ Creek
▪ Blackfeet
▪ Seminole
▪ Cheyenne
▪ Arawak
▪ Shawnee
▪ Mohegan
▪ Huron
▪ Oneida
▪ Lakota
▪ Crow
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▪ Teton
▪ Hopi
▪ Inuit
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the
United States.
▪ Missouri (River)
▪ Mississippi (River)
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the
United States?
▪ Pacic (Ocean)
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the
United States?
▪ Atlantic (Ocean)
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91. Name one U.S. territory.
▪ Puerto Rico
▪ U.S. Virgin Islands
▪ American Samoa
▪ Northern Mariana Islands
▪ Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Vermont
▪ New York
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Ohio
▪ Michigan
▪ Minnesota
▪ North Dakota
▪ Montana
▪ Idaho
▪ Washington
▪ Alaska
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93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
▪ California
▪ Arizona
▪ New Mexico
▪ Texas
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
▪ Washington, D.C.
95. 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).]
B: Symbols
96. Whydoestheaghave13stripes?
▪ because there were 13 original colonies
▪ because the stripes represent the original
colonies
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97. Whydoestheaghave50stars?*
▪ because there is one star for each state
▪ because each star represents a state
▪ because there are 50 states
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
▪ The Star-Spangled Banner
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence
Day?*
▪ July 4
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100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Juneteenth
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas
