2025 version
All 128 civics questions, answered
Every question USCIS can ask on the 2025 civics test, with the acceptable answers and a plain-English explanation. The officer asks up to 20 of them. Get 12 correct and you pass.
128 questions 20 asked at the interview 12 correct to pass
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American Government
Principles of American Government
- 1 What is the form of government of the United States?
- 2 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 3 Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- 4 The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
- 5 How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- 6 What does the Bill of Rights protect?
- 7 How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
- 8 Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
- 9 What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
- 10 Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
- 11 The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
- 12 What is the economic system of the United States?
- 13 What is the rule of law?
- 14 Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
- 15 There are three branches of government. Why?
System of Government
- 16 Name the three branches of government.
- 17 The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
- 18 What part of the federal government writes laws?
- 19 What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- 20 Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
- 21 How many U.S. senators are there?
- 22 How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
- 23 Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
- 24 How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
- 25 How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
- 26 Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
- 27 How many senators does each state have?
- 28 Why does each state have two senators?
- 29 Name your U.S. representative.
- 30 What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- 31 Who does a U.S. senator represent?
- 32 Who elects U.S. senators?
- 33 Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
- 34 Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
- 35 Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
- 36 The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
- 37 The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
- 38 What is the name of the President of the United States now?
- 39 What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
- 40 If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
- 41 Name one power of the president.
- 42 Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
- 43 Who signs bills to become laws?
- 44 Who vetoes bills?
- 45 Who appoints federal judges?
- 46 The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
- 47 What does the President's Cabinet do?
- 48 What are two Cabinet-level positions?
- 49 Why is the Electoral College important?
- 50 What is one part of the judicial branch?
- 51 What does the judicial branch do?
- 52 What is the highest court in the United States?
- 53 How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
- 54 How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
- 55 How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
- 56 Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
- 57 Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
- 58 Name one power that is only for the federal government.
- 59 Name one power that is only for the states.
- 60 What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
- 61 Who is the governor of your state now?
- 62 What is the capital of your state?
Rights and Responsibilities
- 63 There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
- 64 Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
- 65 What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
- 66 What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
- 67 Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
- 68 How can people become United States citizens?
- 69 What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
- 70 What is one way Americans can serve their country?
- 71 Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
- 72 It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
American History
Colonial Period and Independence
- 73 The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
- 74 Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
- 75 What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
- 76 What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
- 77 Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
- 78 Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- 79 When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
- 80 The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
- 81 There were 13 original states. Name five.
- 82 What founding document was written in 1787?
- 83 The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
- 84 Why were the Federalist Papers important?
- 85 Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
- 86 George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
- 87 Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
- 88 James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
- 89 Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
1800s
- 90 What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
- 91 Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
- 92 Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
- 93 The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
- 94 Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
- 95 What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- 96 What U.S. war ended slavery?
- 97 What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
- 98 When did all men get the right to vote?
- 99 Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.
Recent American History
- 100 Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
- 101 Why did the United States enter World War I?
- 102 When did all women get the right to vote?
- 103 What was the Great Depression?
- 104 When did the Great Depression start?
- 105 Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
- 106 Why did the United States enter World War II?
- 107 Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
- 108 Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
- 109 During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
- 110 Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
- 111 Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
- 112 What did the civil rights movement do?
- 113 Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
- 114 Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
- 115 What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
- 116 Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- 117 Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
- 118 Name one example of an American innovation.
Symbols and Holidays
Symbols
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