2025 civics test · Question 11 · Principles of American Government
The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
Official answer
- Declaration of Independence
What this means
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in the Declaration of Independence.
The full line reads that all people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson wrote it in 1776 to explain the rights the new nation was founded to protect.
“Unalienable” means these rights cannot be taken away or given up. That idea is a big part of why the Declaration is remembered as one of the great statements of human rights.
Watch the wording: this famous phrase is in the Declaration, not the Constitution. The answer is “the Declaration of Independence.”
Why this is on the test
The phrase about Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness is one of the most famous in American history, and the test wants you to know where it comes from.
How this question is asked
On the 2025 civics test, the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions out loud and you pass by answering 12 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion.
Related questions
More from 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?