All 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 Test)
This is the complete official list for the 2025 civics test, which applies to anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. At your interview, the officer asks up to 20 of these questions, and you need 12 correct answers to pass. For the history and reasoning behind each answer, see the study pages for American Government, American History and Symbols and Holidays, or use the Why is this the answer? link under each question.
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How to study the 128 questions
You won't get all 128. The officer asks up to 20 and stops as soon as you have 12 right or 9 wrong. The test is spoken, so practice saying each answer out loud, not just recognizing it on a page.
Learn these first: answers that are about you
Four answers depend on where you live: one of your state's U.S. senators (#23), your U.S. representative (#29), your governor (#61) and your state capital (#62). Look them up on our state answers page. Four more change with elections or appointments: the Speaker of the House (#30), the President (#38), the Vice President (#39) and the Chief Justice (#57). Check the USCIS test updates page shortly before your interview.
Watch for questions that need more than one answer
Seven questions ask for two, three or even five answers: #10 (two ideas from the Declaration and the Constitution), #48 (two Cabinet positions), #65 (three rights of everyone), #67 (two promises in the Oath), #69 (two examples of civic participation), #81 (five of the 13 original states) and #126 (three national holidays). One answer isn't enough on these, so memorize a set you can say quickly.
Pairs that are easy to mix up
- 100 senators with 6-year terms; 435 representatives with 2-year terms.
- The Declaration of Independence (1776) announced independence; the Constitution (1787) set up the government.
- Memorial Day honors people who died in military service; Veterans Day honors everyone who served.
- Your state capital is often not its biggest city: Albany, not New York City; Sacramento, not Los Angeles.
A simple plan
- Study one category at a time: American Government, then American History, then Symbols and Holidays.
- Practice with flashcards, then multiple choice, and keep a list of the ones you miss.
- When you know most of them, take full 20-question mock interviews until you pass easily.
- Listen to the questions on the go with audio practice.
If you're 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, you only need the 20 questions marked 65/20. See the 65/20 questions.
American Government
Principles of American Government
1. What is the form of government of the United States?
Any one of:
- Republic
- Constitution-based federal republic
- Representative democracy
2. What is the supreme law of the land? 65/20
Answer:
- (U.S.) Constitution
3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- Amendments
- The amendment process
6. What does the Bill of Rights protect?
Any one of:
- (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? 65/20
Answer:
- Twenty-seven (27)
8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- Declaration of Independence
10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Give any 2:
- 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?
Answer:
- Declaration of Independence
12. What is the economic system of the United States? 65/20
Any one of:
- Capitalism
- Free market economy
13. What is the rule of law?
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- So one part does not become too powerful
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
System of Government
16. Name the three branches of government.
Any one of:
- Legislative, executive, and judicial
- Congress, president, and the courts
17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Answer:
- Executive branch
18. What part of the federal government writes laws?
Any one of:
- (U.S.) Congress
- (U.S. or national) legislature
- Legislative branch
19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer:
- Senate and House (of Representatives)
20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress. 65/20
Any one of:
- Writes laws
- Declares war
- Makes the federal budget
21. How many U.S. senators are there?
Answer:
- One hundred (100)
22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Answer:
- Six (6) years
23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
Answers will vary. Depends on where you live. Find your state's answer.
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?
Answer:
- Four hundred thirty-five (435)
25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Answer:
- Two (2) years
26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
Answer:
- To more closely follow public opinion
27. How many senators does each state have?
Answer:
- Two (2)
28. Why does each state have two senators?
Any one of:
- Equal representation (for small states)
- The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
29. Name your U.S. representative.
Answers will vary. Depends on where you live. Find your state's answer.
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? 65/20
Any one of:
- Mike Johnson
- Johnson
- James Michael Johnson
This answer changes with elections and appointments. Shown as of the USCIS update dated 2025-09-18. Confirm at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Any one of:
- Citizens of their state
- People of their state
32. Who elects U.S. senators?
Answer:
- Citizens from their state
33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- Citizens from their (congressional) district
35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
Any one of:
- (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? 65/20
Answer:
- Four (4) years
37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
Any one of:
- (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? 65/20
Any one of:
- Donald J. Trump
- Donald Trump
- Trump
This answer changes with elections and appointments. Shown as of the USCIS update dated 2025-09-18. Confirm at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? 65/20
Any one of:
- JD Vance
- Vance
This answer changes with elections and appointments. Shown as of the USCIS update dated 2025-09-18. Confirm at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
Answer:
- The Vice President (of the United States)
41. Name one power of the president.
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- The President (of the United States)
43. Who signs bills to become laws?
Answer:
- The President (of the United States)
44. Who vetoes bills? 65/20
Answer:
- The President (of the United States)
45. Who appoints federal judges?
Answer:
- The President (of the United States)
46. The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
Any one of:
- President (of the United States)
- Cabinet
- Federal departments and agencies
47. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Answer:
- Advises the President (of the United States)
48. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Give any 2:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- Supreme Court
- Federal Courts
51. What does the judicial branch do?
Any one of:
- 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? 65/20
Answer:
- Supreme Court
53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Answer:
- Nine (9)
54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Answer:
- Five (5)
55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
Any one of:
- (For) life
- Lifetime appointment
- (Until) retirement
56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
Any one of:
- To be independent (of politics)
- To limit outside (political) influence
57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Any one of:
- John Roberts
- John G. Roberts, Jr.
- Roberts
This answer changes with elections and appointments. Shown as of the USCIS update dated 2025-09-18. Confirm at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
58. Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- (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? 65/20
Answers will vary. Depends on where you live. Find your state's answer.
District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.
62. What is the capital of your state?
Answers will vary. Depends on where you live. Find your state's answer.
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.
Rights and Responsibilities
63. There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- Citizens
- Citizens of the United States
- U.S. citizens
65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Give any 3:
- 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? 65/20
Any one of:
- The United States
- The flag
67. Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give any 2:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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?
Give any 2:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- Required by law
- Civic duty
- Makes the draft fair, if needed
American History
Colonial Period and Independence
73. The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Any one of:
- Freedom
- Political liberty
- Religious freedom
- Economic opportunity
- Escape persecution
74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? 65/20
Any one of:
- American Indians
- Native Americans
75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Any one of:
- Africans
- People from Africa
76. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
Any one of:
- American Revolution
- The (American) Revolutionary War
- War for (American) Independence
77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
Any one of:
- 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? 65/20
Answer:
- (Thomas) Jefferson
79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
Answer:
- July 4, 1776
80. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
Any one of:
- (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.
Give any 5:
- 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?
Answer:
- (U.S.) Constitution
83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
Any one of:
- (James) Madison
- (Alexander) Hamilton
- (John) Jay
- Publius
84. Why were the Federalist Papers important?
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- 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. 65/20
Any one of:
- “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.
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- “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.
Any one of:
- 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
1800s
90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Any one of:
- Louisiana Territory
- Louisiana
91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Any one of:
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
Answer:
- The Civil War
93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
Any one of:
- (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. 65/20
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- 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?
Answer:
- 14th Amendment
98. When did all men get the right to vote?
Any one of:
- After the Civil War
- During Reconstruction
- (With the) 15th Amendment
- 1870
99. Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Any one of:
- Susan B. Anthony
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
- Sojourner Truth
- Harriet Tubman
- Lucretia Mott
- Lucy Stone
Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
100. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
Any one of:
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
101. Why did the United States enter World War I?
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- 1920
- After World War I
- (With the) 19th Amendment
103. What was the Great Depression?
Answer:
- Longest economic recession in modern history
104. When did the Great Depression start?
Any one of:
- The Great Crash (1929)
- Stock market crash of 1929
105. Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
Answer:
- (Franklin) Roosevelt
106. Why did the United States enter World War II?
Any one of:
- (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.
Any one of:
- 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?
Any one of:
- Soviet Union
- USSR
- Russia
109. During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Any one of:
- Communism
- Nuclear war
110. Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
Answer:
- To stop the spread of communism
111. Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
Answer:
- To stop the spread of communism
112. What did the civil rights movement do?
Answer:
- Fought to end racial discrimination
113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. 65/20
Any one of:
- 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?
Answer:
- To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? 65/20
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- (Global) War on Terror
- War in Afghanistan
- War in Iraq
117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Any one of:
- 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.
Any one of:
- Light bulb
- Automobile (cars, internal combustion engine)
- Skyscrapers
- Airplane
- Assembly line
- Landing on the moon
- Integrated circuit (IC)
Symbols and Holidays
Symbols
119. What is the capital of the United States?
Answer:
- Washington, D.C.
120. Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Any one of:
- 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? 65/20
Any one of:
- (Because there were) 13 original colonies
- (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
122. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Any one of:
- (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?
Answer:
- The Star-Spangled Banner
124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Any one of:
- Out of many, one
- We all become one
Holidays
125. What is Independence Day?
Any one of:
- A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
- The country’s birthday
126. Name three national U.S. holidays. 65/20
Give any 3:
- 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?
Answer:
- A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
128. What is Veterans Day?
Any one of:
- A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military
- A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)
Questions and answers: USCIS, 2025 Civics Test (128 questions) (public domain). Explanations and study tips are written by CitizenshipBound. CitizenshipBound is not affiliated with USCIS.