American Government Civics Questions
The government part of the civics test: principles, branches, Congress, rights and responsibilities.
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How to use the American government quiz
- Choose the list above the quiz: 2025 (128 questions) or 2008 (100 questions). Use the list that matches the date your N-400 was filed.
- Press Start. A round is 10 random questions from the American Government questions.
- Read the question and say your answer out loud before you look, as you would to the officer.
- Press Reveal. The full USCIS answer list appears with the question number. If the question asks for two or three answers, give that many; an alternative phrasing of a correct answer counts.
- Mark your answer as right or wrong, then press Next.
- At the end you see your score and the questions you missed. Start the review round to repeat only those.
Your score history and missed questions are stored only in this browser. Questions that depend on where you live or on an office-holder carry a note pointing to the USCIS Test Updates page.
A good routine is two or three short rounds a day rather than one long one: do a round, read the answers you missed, and run the review round the next day. When you can clear a round without a miss, switch to a harder category or to the exam-format mock. Saying the answer out loud matters, because the real test is oral and the officer cannot see what you are thinking. This routine is ours; USCIS publishes the questions and answers only.
What are the government questions on the citizenship test?
The American Government part is the largest category on both USCIS lists. It holds 72 of the 128 questions on the 2025 list and 57 of the 100 on the 2008 list. Its three subcategories are principles, the system of government, and rights and responsibilities.
| Subcategory | 2025 list | 2008 list |
|---|---|---|
| A. Principles (2025: of American Government; 2008: of American Democracy) | 15 | 12 |
| B. System of Government | 47 | 35 |
| C. Rights and Responsibilities | 10 | 10 |
| American Government total | 72 of 128 | 57 of 100 |
The other 56 questions on the 2025 list and 43 on the 2008 list belong to other categories, which the American history page covers. Since System of Government is the biggest subcategory, it deserves the most study time.
What are the branches of government?
The United States has three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. Four 2025 questions cover the idea, and the listed answers are USCIS wording.
| 2025 question | Listed answers |
|---|---|
| Q15 There are three branches of government. Why? | So one part does not become too powerful / Checks and balances / Separation of powers |
| Q16 Name the three branches of government. | Legislative, executive, and judicial / Congress, president, and the courts |
| Q17 The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government? | Executive branch |
| Q18 What part of the federal government writes laws? | (U.S.) Congress / (U.S. or national) legislature / Legislative branch |
Sample government questions
Verbatim entries from the USCIS lists. First the 2025 list, then the 2008 list.
2025 list
| No. | Question | Listed answers (first three) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is the form of government of the United States? | Republic / Constitution-based federal republic / Representative democracy |
| 11 | The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document? | Declaration of Independence |
| 21 | How many U.S. senators are there? | One hundred (100) |
| 34 | Who elects members of the House of Representatives? | Citizens from their (congressional) district |
| 46 | The executive branch has many parts. Name one. | President (of the United States) / Cabinet / Federal departments and agencies |
| 56 | Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why? | To be independent (of politics) / To limit outside (political) influence |
2008 list
| No. | Question | Listed answers (first three) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is the supreme law of the land? | the Constitution |
| 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) |
| 15 | Who is in charge of the executive branch? | the President |
| 24 | Who does a U.S. Senator represent? | all people of the state |
| 33 | Who signs bills to become laws? | the President |
| 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 (fire departments) |
How this tool works and where the numbers come from
Questions and answers are taken from the USCIS PDFs retrieved 2026-10-26 and shown unchanged; counts by category are computed from them; the pass and stop rules are quoted from USCIS Study for the Test and the Policy Manual.
Sources
Check yourself: common questions
What is the supreme law of the land?
The supreme law of the land is the (U.S.) Constitution. Federal and state laws must agree with it, so a law that conflicts with the Constitution cannot stand.
What are the 20 questions on the citizenship test?
For most applicants there is no fixed set: a USCIS system picks up to 20 questions at random from all 128. Only 65/20 applicants study a fixed list of 20 marked questions (see 65/20 civics questions).
What are the 100 questions on the U.S. citizenship test?
The 100 questions come from the 2008 USCIS list. Select the 2008 version to see every question with its listed answers and question number. The 2025 list has 128 questions, so confirm which version your interview uses.
What do I need to study for the U.S. citizenship test?
Study the list that matches the date your N-400 was filed: the 100-question 2008 list for filings before 20 October 2025, or the 128-question 2025 list for filings on or after that date. Also prepare for the English reading, writing and speaking parts. See the citizenship test study guide for an order to follow.
What does “We the People” mean?
In the 2025 list (Q4), the listed answers are self-government, popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, people should govern themselves, and (U.S. is an) example of social contract. Give any one.
Who makes federal laws?
Congress writes federal laws. In the 2025 list the question is worded “What part of the federal government writes laws?” (Q18), and the listed answers are (U.S.) Congress, (U.S. or national) legislature and Legislative branch.
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
This is Q65 on the 2025 list, and it asks for three. The list gives six answers: freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of religion and the right to bear arms. Give any three.
What if the answer depends on who holds an office?
Some questions depend on the current office-holder or on where you live, such as your senator or your governor. Check the USCIS Test Updates page for current names, and never memorize a name from another website.
Related tools
- Civics test practice: use it to practice questions from every category in one place.
- American history, symbols and holidays civics questions: use it for the non-government questions on both lists.
- 2025 civics test practice (128 questions): use it when your interview uses the 2025 list.
- 2008 civics test practice (100 questions): use it when your interview uses the 2008 list.
- Current office-holders for the citizenship test: use it for questions about the President, Vice President, Speaker and Chief Justice.
- Senators and representative questions for the citizenship test: use it for questions about your senators and representative.
- Hardest civics test questions: use it to focus on the questions our own rules flag as harder.