U.S. civics test study guideOut of Many, One

One answer per question. The answers below are just one, or the bare minimum, of the answers USCIS accepts. For the complete list, see the 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version). Our aim is for you to understand the why behind the what, not simply memorize answers to pass the test, so each answer links back to the part of the story that explains it.

All 128 questions in number order. Turn on quiz mode to hide the answers, then tap each one to check yourself. Each item links to the spot in the story where its answer appears. For practice that is closer to the real interview, try the typed-answer quiz.

  1. Q1What is the form of government of the United States?Read it in the story →
  2. Q2What is the supreme law of the land?Read it in the story →
  3. Q3Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.Read it in the story →
  4. Q4What does "We the People" mean?Read it in the story →
  5. Q5How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?Read it in the story →
  6. Q6What does the Bill of Rights protect?Read it in the story →
  7. Q7How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?Read it in the story →
  8. Q8Why is the Declaration of Independence important?Read it in the story →
  9. Q9What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?Read it in the story →
  10. Q10Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.Read it in the story →
  11. Q11The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?Read it in the story →
  12. Q12What is the economic system of the United States?Read it in the story →
  13. Q13What is the rule of law?Read it in the story →
  14. Q14Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.Read it in the story →
  15. Q15There are three branches of government. Why?Read it in the story →
  16. Q16Name the three branches of government.Read it in the story →
  17. Q17The President is in charge of which branch of government?Read it in the story →
  18. Q18What part of the federal government writes laws?Read it in the story →
  19. Q19What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?Read it in the story →
  20. Q20Name one power of the U.S. Congress.Read it in the story →
  21. Q21How many U.S. senators are there?Read it in the story →
  22. Q22How long is a term for a U.S. senator?Read it in the story →
  23. Q23Name one of your state's U.S. senators now.Look it up on the Your state page →
  24. Q24How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?Read it in the story →
  25. Q25How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?Read it in the story →
  26. Q26Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?Read it in the story →
  27. Q27How many senators does each state have?Read it in the story →
  28. Q28Why does each state have two senators?Read it in the story →
  29. Q29Name your U.S. representative.Look it up on the Your state page →
  30. Q30What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?Look it up ↗
  31. Q31Who does a U.S. senator represent?Read it in the story →
  32. Q32Who elects U.S. senators?Read it in the story →
  33. Q33Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?Read it in the story →
  34. Q34Who elects members of the House of Representatives?Read it in the story →
  35. Q35Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?Read it in the story →
  36. Q36The President is elected for how many years?Read it in the story →
  37. Q37The President can serve only two terms. Why?Read it in the story →
  38. Q38What is the name of the President of the United States now?Look it up ↗
  39. Q39What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?Look it up ↗
  40. Q40If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?Read it in the story →
  41. Q41Name one power of the president.Read it in the story →
  42. Q42Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?Read it in the story →
  43. Q43Who signs bills to become laws?Read it in the story →
  44. Q44Who vetoes bills?Read it in the story →
  45. Q45Who appoints federal judges?Read it in the story →
  46. Q46The executive branch has many parts. Name one.Read it in the story →
  47. Q47What does the President's Cabinet do?Read it in the story →
  48. Q48What are two Cabinet-level positions?Read it in the story →
  49. Q49Why is the Electoral College important?Read it in the story →
  50. Q50What is one part of the judicial branch?Read it in the story →
  51. Q51What does the judicial branch do?Read it in the story →
  52. Q52What is the highest court in the United States?Read it in the story →
  53. Q53How many seats are on the Supreme Court?Read it in the story →
  54. Q54How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?Read it in the story →
  55. Q55How long do Supreme Court justices serve?Read it in the story →
  56. Q56Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?Read it in the story →
  57. Q57Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?Look it up ↗
  58. Q58Name one power that is only for the federal government.Read it in the story →
  59. Q59Name one power that is only for the states.Read it in the story →
  60. Q60What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?Read it in the story →
  61. Q61Who is the governor of your state now?Look it up on the Your state page →
  62. Q62What is the capital of your state?Look it up on the Your state page →
  63. Q63Describe one of the four amendments about who can vote.Read it in the story →
  64. Q64Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury?Read it in the story →
  65. Q65What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?Read it in the story →
  66. Q66What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?Read it in the story →
  67. Q67Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.Read it in the story →
  68. Q68How can people become United States citizens?Read it in the story →
  69. Q69What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?Read it in the story →
  70. Q70What is one way Americans can serve their country?Read it in the story →
  71. Q71Why is it important to pay federal taxes?Read it in the story →
  72. Q72Why must men age 18 through 25 register for the Selective Service?Read it in the story →
  73. Q73The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.Read it in the story →
  74. Q74Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?Read it in the story →
  75. Q75What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?Read it in the story →
  76. Q76What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?Read it in the story →
  77. Q77Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.Read it in the story →
  78. Q78Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?Read it in the story →
  79. Q79When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?Read it in the story →
  80. Q80The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.Read it in the story →
  81. Q81There were 13 original states. Name five.Read it in the story →
  82. Q82What founding document was written in 1787?Read it in the story →
  83. Q83Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers.Read it in the story →
  84. Q84Why were the Federalist Papers important?Read it in the story →
  85. Q85Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  86. Q86George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  87. Q87Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  88. Q88James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  89. Q89Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  90. Q90What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?Read it in the story →
  91. Q91Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.Read it in the story →
  92. Q92Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.Read it in the story →
  93. Q93The Civil War had many important events. Name one.Read it in the story →
  94. Q94Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  95. Q95What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?Read it in the story →
  96. Q96What U.S. war ended slavery?Read it in the story →
  97. Q97What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are U.S. citizens?Read it in the story →
  98. Q98When did all men get the right to vote?Read it in the story →
  99. Q99Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.Read it in the story →
  100. Q100Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.Read it in the story →
  101. Q101Why did the United States enter World War I?Read it in the story →
  102. Q102When did all women get the right to vote?Read it in the story →
  103. Q103What was the Great Depression?Read it in the story →
  104. Q104When did the Great Depression start?Read it in the story →
  105. Q105Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?Read it in the story →
  106. Q106Why did the United States enter World War II?Read it in the story →
  107. Q107Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  108. Q108Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?Read it in the story →
  109. Q109During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?Read it in the story →
  110. Q110Why did the United States enter the Korean War?Read it in the story →
  111. Q111Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?Read it in the story →
  112. Q112What did the civil rights movement do?Read it in the story →
  113. Q113Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.Read it in the story →
  114. Q114Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?Read it in the story →
  115. Q115What major event happened on September 11, 2001?Read it in the story →
  116. Q116Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.Read it in the story →
  117. Q117Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.Read it in the story →
  118. Q118Name one example of an American innovation.Read it in the story →
  119. Q119What is the capital of the United States?Read it in the story →
  120. Q120Where is the Statue of Liberty?Read it in the story →
  121. Q121Why does the flag have 13 stripes?Read it in the story →
  122. Q122Why does the flag have 50 stars?Read it in the story →
  123. Q123What is the name of the national anthem?Read it in the story →
  124. Q124The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?Read it in the story →
  125. Q125What is Independence Day?Read it in the story →
  126. Q126Name three national U.S. holidays.Read it in the story →
  127. Q127What is Memorial Day?Read it in the story →
  128. Q128What is Veterans Day?Read it in the story →
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