128 Civics Questions

The full list

* = one of the 20 questions of the 65/20 list. Source: USCIS M-1778 (09/25), retrieved 2026-10-26. USCIS lists these answers; other correct answers may exist.

1. What is the form of government of the United States? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Republic · Constitution-based federal republic · Representative democracy
2. What is the supreme law of the land? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] (U.S.) Constitution
3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Forms the government · Defines powers of government · Defines the parts of government · Protects the rights of the people
4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Self-government · Popular sovereignty · Consent of the governed · People should govern themselves · (Example of) social contract
5. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Amendments · The amendment process
6. What does the Bill of Rights protect? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] (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? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Twenty-seven (27)
8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] It says America is free from British control. · It says all people are created equal. · It identifies inherent rights. · It identifies individual freedoms.
9. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Declaration of Independence
10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Equality · Liberty · Social contract · Natural rights · Limited government · Self-government
11. The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Declaration of Independence
12. What is the economic system of the United States? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Capitalism · Free market economy
13. What is the rule of law? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] Everyone must follow the law. · Leaders must obey the law. · Government must obey the law. · No one is above the law.
14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] 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
15. There are three branches of government. Why? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, A: Principles of American Government] So one part does not become too powerful · Checks and balances · Separation of powers
16. Name the three branches of government. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System 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? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Executive branch
18. What part of the federal government writes laws? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] (U.S.) Congress · (U.S. or national) legislature · Legislative branch
19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Senate and House (of Representatives)
20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress. * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Writes laws · Declares war · Makes the federal budget
21. How many U.S. senators are there? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] One hundred (100)
22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Six (6) years
23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Answers will vary. USCIS Test Updates [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.]
24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Four hundred thirty-five (435)
25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Two (2) years
26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] To more closely follow public opinion
27. How many senators does each state have? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Two (2)
28. Why does each state have two senators? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Equal representation (for small states) · The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
29. Name your U.S. representative. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Answers will vary. USCIS Test Updates [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? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. USCIS Test Updates
31. Who does a U.S. senator represent? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Citizens of their state · People of their state
32. Who elects U.S. senators? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Citizens from their state
33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Citizens in their (congressional) district · Citizens in their district · People from their (congressional) district · People in their district
34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Citizens from their (congressional) district
35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] (Because of) the state’s population · (Because) they have more people · (Because) some states have more people
36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Four (4) years
37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] (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? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States. USCIS Test Updates
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States. USCIS Test Updates
40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] The Vice President (of the United States)
41. Name one power of the president. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Signs bills into law · Vetoes bills · Enforces laws · Commander in Chief (of the military) · Chief diplomat · Appoints federal judges
42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] The President (of the United States)
43. Who signs bills to become laws? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] The President (of the United States)
44. Who vetoes bills? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] The President (of the United States)
45. Who appoints federal judges? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] The President (of the United States)
46. The executive branch has many parts. Name one. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] President (of the United States) · Cabinet · Federal departments and agencies
47. What does the President’s Cabinet do? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Advises the President (of the United States)
48. What are two Cabinet-level positions? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] 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
49. Why is the Electoral College important? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] It decides who is elected president. · It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
50. What is one part of the judicial branch? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Supreme Court · Federal Courts
51. What does the judicial branch do? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Reviews laws · Explains laws · Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law · Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
52. What is the highest court in the United States? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Supreme Court
53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Nine (9)
54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Five (5)
55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] (For) life · Lifetime appointment · (Until) retirement
56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] To be independent (of politics) · To limit outside (political) influence
57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States. USCIS Test Updates
58. Name one power that is only for the federal government. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Print paper money · Mint coins · Declare war · Create an army · Make treaties · Set foreign policy
59. Name one power that is only for the states. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Provide schooling and education · Provide protection (police) · Provide safety (fire departments) · Give a driver’s license · Approve zoning and land use
60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] (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? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Answers will vary. USCIS Test Updates [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]
62. What is the capital of your state? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, B: System of Government] Answers will vary. USCIS Test Updates [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.]
63. There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] 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).
64. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Citizens · Citizens of the United States · U.S. citizens
65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Freedom of expression · Freedom of speech · Freedom of assembly · Freedom to petition the government · Freedom of religion · The right to bear arms
66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? * [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] The United States · The flag
67. Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] 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
68. How can people become United States citizens? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment · Naturalize · Derive citizenship (under conditions set by Congress)
69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] 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
70. What is one way Americans can serve their country? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Vote · Pay taxes · Obey the law · Serve in the military · Run for office · Work for local, state, or federal government
71. Why is it important to pay federal taxes? [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Required by law · All people pay to fund the federal government · Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment) · Civic duty
72. It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why. [AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, C: Rights and Responsibilities] Required by law · Civic duty · Makes the draft fair, if needed
73. The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] Freedom · Political liberty · Religious freedom · Economic opportunity · Escape persecution
74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? * [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] American Indians · Native Americans
75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves? [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] Africans · People from Africa
76. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain? [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] American Revolution · The (American) Revolutionary War · War for (American) Independence
77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] 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
78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? * [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] (Thomas) Jefferson
79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] July 4, 1776
80. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] (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)
81. There were 13 original states. Name five. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] New Hampshire · Massachusetts · Rhode Island · Connecticut · New York · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Delaware · Maryland · Virginia · North Carolina · South Carolina · Georgia
82. What founding document was written in 1787? [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] (U.S.) Constitution
83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] (James) Madison · (Alexander) Hamilton · (John) Jay · Publius
84. Why were the Federalist Papers important? [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution. · They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.
85. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] Founded the first free public libraries · First Postmaster General of the United States · Helped write the Declaration of Independence · Inventor · U.S. diplomat
86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one. * [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] “Father of Our Country” · First president of the United States · General of the Continental Army · President of the Constitutional Convention
87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] 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
88. James Madison is famous for many things. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] “Father of the Constitution” · Fourth president of the United States · President during the War of 1812 · One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
89. Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, A: Colonial Period and Independence] 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
90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] Louisiana Territory · Louisiana
91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] War of 1812 · Mexican-American War · Civil War · Spanish-American War
92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] The Civil War
93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] (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.
94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. * [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] 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
95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] Freed the slaves · Freed slaves in the Confederacy · Freed slaves in the Confederate states · Freed slaves in most Southern states
96. What U.S. war ended slavery? [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] The Civil War
97. What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens? [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] 14th Amendment
98. When did all men get the right to vote? [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] After the Civil War · During Reconstruction · (With the) 15th Amendment · 1870
99. Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s. [AMERICAN HISTORY, B: 1800s] Susan B. Anthony · Elizabeth Cady Stanton · Sojourner Truth · Harriet Tubman · Lucretia Mott · Lucy Stone
100. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] World War I · World War II · Korean War · Vietnam War · (Persian) Gulf War
101. Why did the United States enter World War I? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 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)
102. When did all women get the right to vote? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 1920 · After World War I · (With the) 19th Amendment
103. What was the Great Depression? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] Longest economic recession in modern history
104. When did the Great Depression start? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] The Great Crash (1929) · Stock market crash of 1929
105. Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] (Franklin) Roosevelt
106. Why did the United States enter World War II? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] (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)
107. Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one. [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 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)
108. Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] Soviet Union · USSR · Russia
109. During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] Communism · Nuclear war
110. Why did the United States enter the Korean War? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] To stop the spread of communism
111. Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] To stop the spread of communism
112. What did the civil rights movement do? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] Fought to end racial discrimination
113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. * [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 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”
114. Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War? [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? * [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 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
116. Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks. [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] (Global) War on Terror · War in Afghanistan · War in Iraq
117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] 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.
118. Name one example of an American innovation. [AMERICAN HISTORY, C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information] Light bulb · Automobile (cars, internal combustion engine) · Skyscrapers · Airplane · Assembly line · Landing on the moon · Integrated circuit (IC)
119. What is the capital of the United States? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] Washington, D.C.
120. Where is the Statue of Liberty? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] New York (Harbor) · Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? * [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] (Because there were) 13 original colonies · (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
122. Why does the flag have 50 stars? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] (Because there is) one star for each state · (Because) each star represents a state · (Because there are) 50 states
123. What is the name of the national anthem? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] The Star-Spangled Banner
124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, A: Symbols] Out of many, one · We all become one
125. What is Independence Day? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, B: Holidays] A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain) · The country’s birthday
126. Name three national U.S. holidays. * [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, B: 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
127. What is Memorial Day? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, B: Holidays] A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
128. What is Veterans Day? [SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS, B: Holidays] A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military · A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)