Name one right only for United States citizens.

Why This Matters

This question is closely related to Question 49, but it asks about rights instead of responsibilities. The USCIS officer wants to know that you understand which rights are reserved exclusively for United States citizens. While everyone living in the U.S. enjoys many rights, certain rights belong only to people who are citizens.

The two rights that only U.S. citizens have are the right to vote in a federal election and the right to run for federal office. Voting in federal elections means choosing the President, Senators, and members of the House of Representatives. Non-citizens cannot participate in these elections. Running for federal office means you can become a candidate for positions like Senator or Representative. This is a powerful right because it means citizens do not just choose their leaders, they can become leaders themselves.

These exclusive rights are one of the main reasons people go through the naturalization process. After your interview and oath ceremony, you will gain the ability to shape the direction of the country through your vote and, if you choose, by running for office. Understanding these rights shows the USCIS officer that you value what citizenship means.

Key Facts

• Voting in a federal election is a right only for U.S. citizens
• Running for federal office is a right only for U.S. citizens
• Federal offices include positions like U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative
• Many other rights, like freedom of speech and freedom of religion, belong to everyone in the U.S., not just citizens
• The right to vote and run for office are what make citizenship different from permanent residency

Common Mistakes

• Saying "freedom of speech" or "freedom of religion", these rights belong to everyone in the United States, not only citizens
• Confusing this question with Question 49 about responsibilities, this one asks about rights
• Saying "the right to work", non-citizens with proper authorization can also work in the U.S.

Study Tip

This question and Question 49 are easy to mix up. Here is a simple trick: for rights, think "vote and run." For responsibilities, think "jury and vote." Notice that voting appears in both, it is both a right and a responsibility. The unique word for rights is "run" (for office), and the unique word for responsibilities is "jury."