Citizenship Test Questions

If you are about to file or have already filed your application for U.S. Citizenship it is important that you begin studying for the test. Fortunately, USCIS gives you all the answers beforehand! Below you will find every question that USCIS asks as provided by the USCIS website. At your interview the officer will only ask you 10 questions from the list below. You will need to get 6 right to pass. 

History and Government Questions for the Naturalization Test

The 100 history and government questions and answers for the naturalization test are listed below. The officer will read the questions aloud. The USCIS Officer will ask you up to 10 of the 100 civics questions. You must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test.

On the naturalization test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments, for example, the answer to the question – who is the President of the United States? may be different in 2013 than in 2012. As you study for the test, make sure that you know the most current answers to these questions. Answer these questions with the name of the official who is serving at the time of your eligibility interview with USCIS. The USCIS Officer will not accept an incorrect answer.



A: Principles of American Democracy

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

the Constitution

2. What does the Constitution do?

sets up the government

defines the government

protects basic rights of Americans


We the People

4. What is an amendment?

a change (to the Constitution)

an addition (to the Constitution)


the Bill of Rights






petition the government

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

twenty-seven (27)

8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?

announced our independence (from Great Britain)

declared our independence (from Great Britain)

said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?



pursuit of happiness

10. What is freedom of religion?

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.


capitalist economy

market economy

12. What is the “rule of law”?

Everyone must follow the law.

Leaders must obey the law.

Government must obey the law.

No one is above the law.

B: System of Government

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*





the courts



checks and balances

separation of powers

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

the President

16. Who makes federal laws?


Senate and House (of Representatives)

(U.S. or national) legislature


the Senate and House (of Representatives)

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

one hundred (100)


six (6)




21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

four hundred thirty-five (435)


two (2)

23. Name your U.S. Representative.



no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

all people of the state


(because of) the state’s population

(because) they have more people

(because) some states have more people

26. We elect a President for how many years?

four (4)

27. In what month do we vote for President?*



Barack Obama



Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Joe Biden



the Vice President


the Speaker of the House

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

the President

33. Who signs bills to become laws?

the President

34. Who vetoes bills?

the President

35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

advises the President

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

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

37. What does the judicial branch do?

reviews laws

explains laws

resolves disputes (disagreements)

decides if a law goes against the Constitution

38. What is the highest court in the United States?

the Supreme Court

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

nine (9)


John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)



to print money

to declare war

to create an army

to make treaties


provide schooling and education

provide protection (police)

provide safety (fire departments)

give a driver’s license

approve zoning and land use

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?


44. What is the capital of your state?*




Democratic and Republican

46. What is the political party of the President now?

Democratic (Party)


(John) Boehner

C: Rights and Responsibilities


Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).



A male citizen of any race (can vote).


serve on a jury

vote in a federal election

50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

vote in a federal election

run for federal office


freedom of expression

freedom of speech

freedom of assembly

freedom to petition the government

freedom of worship

the right to bear arms


the United States

the flag


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)


be loyal to the United States


eighteen (18) and older



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


April 15

57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?

at age eighteen (18)

between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)




A: Colonial Period and Independence

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?


political liberty

religious freedom

economic opportunity

practice their religion

escape persecution

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

American Indians

Native Americans



people from Africa

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

because of high taxes (taxation without representation)


because they didn’t have self-government

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

(Thomas) Jefferson

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

New Hampshire


Rhode Island


New York

New Jersey





North Carolina

South Carolina


65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitution was written.

The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

66. When was the Constitution written?



(James) Madison

(Alexander) Hamilton

(John) Jay


68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

U.S. diplomat

oldest member of the Constitutional Convention

first Postmaster General of the United States

writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”

started the first free libraries

69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

(George) Washington

70. Who was the first President?*

(George) Washington

B: 1800s


the Louisiana Territory



War of 1812

Mexican-American War

Civil War

Spanish-American War


the Civil War

the War between the States

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.


economic reasons

states’ rights


freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

saved (or preserved) the Union

led the United States during the Civil War

76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

freed the slaves

freed slaves in the Confederacy

freed slaves in the Confederate states

freed slaves in most Southern states

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

fought for women’s rights

fought for civil rights

C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information


World War I

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

(Persian) Gulf War

79. Who was President during World War I?

(Woodrow) Wilson


(Franklin) Roosevelt


Japan, Germany, and Italy


World War II



84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

civil rights (movement)


fought for civil rights

worked for equality for all Americans


Terrorists attacked the United States.

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

























A: Geography


Missouri (River)

Mississippi (River)


Pacific (Ocean)





Atlantic (Ocean)

91. Name one U.S. territory.

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

American Samoa

Northern Mariana Islands


92. Name one state that borders Canada.


New Hampshire


New York





North Dakota





93. Name one state that borders Mexico.



New Mexico


94. What is the capital of the United States?*

Washington, D.C.

95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*

New York (Harbor)

Liberty Island


B: Symbols

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

because there were 13 original colonies

because the stripes represent the original colonies

97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*

because there is one star for each state

because each star represents a state

because there are 50 states

98. What is the name of the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner

C: Holidays

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*

July 4

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Presidents’ Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day