American Government
69 questions from the 2025 USCIS civics test
Questions about the principles of American democracy, the structure and function of the federal government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. This is the largest section of the civics test with 69 questions covering the Constitution, the three branches of government, state and federal powers, and civic participation.
During your USCIS naturalization interview, the officer may ask questions from any of the sub-sections below. Each question lists every answer that USCIS considers acceptable, you only need to provide one correct answer. Answers separated by semicolons are alternative acceptable responses.
Principles of American Democracy
- Question 1
What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: the Constitution
- Question 2
What does the Constitution do?
Answer: sets up the government; defines the government; protects basic rights of Americans
- Question 3
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
Answer: We the People
- Question 4
What is an amendment?
Answer: a change (to the Constitution); an addition (to the Constitution)
- Question 5
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Answer: the Bill of Rights
- Question 6
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Answer: speech; religion; assembly; press; petition the government
- Question 7
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Answer: twenty-seven (27)
- Question 8
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Answer: announced our independence (from Great Britain); declared our independence (from Great Britain); said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
- Question 9
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: life; liberty; pursuit of happiness
- Question 10
What is freedom of religion?
Answer: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
- Question 11
What is the economic system in the United States?
Answer: capitalist economy; market economy
- Question 12
What is the “rule of law”?
Answer: Everyone must follow the law.; Leaders must obey the law.; Government must obey the law.; No one is above the law.
System of Government
- Question 13
Name one branch or part of the government.
Answer: Congress; legislative; President; executive; the courts; judicial
- Question 14
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Answer: checks and balances; separation of powers
- Question 15
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Answer: the President
- Question 16
Who makes federal laws?
Answer: Congress; Senate and House (of Representatives); (U.S. or national) legislature
- Question 17
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer: the Senate and House (of Representatives)
- Question 18
How many U.S. Senators are there?
Answer: one hundred (100)
- Question 19
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: six (6)
- Question 20
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Answer: Answers will vary. [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.]
- Question 21
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Answer: four hundred thirty-five (435)
- Question 22
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Answer: two (2)
- Question 23
Name your U.S. Representative.
Answer: Answers will vary. [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.]
- Question 24
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Answer: all people of the state
- Question 25
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Answer: (because of) the state’s population; (because) they have more people; (because) some states have more people
- Question 26
We elect a President for how many years?
Answer: four (4)
- Question 27
In what month do we vote for President?
Answer: November
- Question 28
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Answer: Donald J. Trump
- Question 29
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Answer: J.D. Vance
- Question 30
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Answer: the Vice President
- Question 31
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Answer: the Speaker of the House
- Question 32
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
Answer: the President
- Question 33
Who signs bills to become laws?
Answer: the President
- Question 34
Who vetoes bills?
Answer: the President
- Question 35
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Answer: advises the President
- Question 36
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Answer: Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Commerce; Secretary of Defense; 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; Attorney General; Vice President
- Question 37
What does the judicial branch do?
Answer: reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disputes (disagreements); decides if a law goes against the Constitution
- Question 38
What is the highest court in the United States?
Answer: the Supreme Court
- Question 39
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Answer: nine (9)
- Question 40
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Answer: John Roberts
- Question 41
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
Answer: to print money; to declare war; to create an army; to make treaties
- Question 42
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Answer: provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver’s license; approve zoning and land use
- Question 43
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Answer: Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]
- Question 44
What is the capital of your state?
Answer: Answers will vary. [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.]
- Question 45
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Answer: Democratic and Republican
- Question 46
What is the political party of the President now?
Answer: Republican (Party)
- Question 47
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Answer: Mike Johnson
Rights and Responsibilities
- Question 48
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Answer: 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).
- Question 49
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Answer: serve on a jury; vote in a federal election
- Question 50
Name one right only for United States citizens.
Answer: vote in a federal election; run for federal office
- Question 51
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Answer: freedom of expression; freedom of speech; freedom of assembly; freedom to petition the government; freedom of religion; the right to bear arms
- Question 52
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Answer: the United States; the flag
- Question 53
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Answer: give up loyalty to other countries; defend the Constitution and laws of the United States; obey the laws of the United States; serve in the U.S. military (if needed); serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed); be loyal to the United States
- Question 54
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
Answer: eighteen (18) and older
- Question 55
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Answer: vote; 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; call Senators and Representatives; publicly support or oppose an issue or policy; run for office; write to a newspaper
- Question 56
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
Answer: April 15
- Question 57
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Answer: at age eighteen (18); between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
Additional Government Questions
- Question 101
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.
- Question 102
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer: the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Question 103
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Answer: print money; declare war; create an army; make treaties; set foreign policy; make immigration policy
- Question 104
Name one power that is only for the states.
Answer: provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver’s license; approve zoning and land use
- Question 105
What is the purpose of the Electoral College?
Answer: to choose the President; to elect the President
- Question 106
What is one power of the U.S. Senate?
Answer: approve (confirm) Cabinet members; approve (confirm) federal judges; approve (ratify) treaties; try impeached officials
- Question 107
What is one power of the U.S. House of Representatives?
Answer: make (introduce) new bills about taxes (revenue); decide if a government official should be put on trial before the Senate (impeach)
- Question 108
Why is the Electoral College important?
Answer: It decides who is elected President.; It provides a compromise between the popular vote and congressional selection of the President.
- Question 109
What is one reason the colonists were unhappy with the British government?
Answer: Colonists did not have self-government.; The British taxed the colonists without their consent (representation).; The British quartered (housed) soldiers in citizens’ homes.; The British denied colonists a fair trial.
- Question 110
How does a citizen keep informed about issues?
Answer: by reading newspapers; by watching the news; by listening to the news; by reading about current events; by discussing issues with friends and family
- Question 111
What does the judicial branch do?
Answer: reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disputes; decides if a law goes against the Constitution
- Question 112
Why is it important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service?
Answer: It is required by law.; All men age 18 through 25 are required to register.
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