US citizenship civics test study guide
82 key facts the test asks about, by topic. Read them, test yourself with flashcards, then take a practice test. For the full picture, also read the official guide.
The English reading and writing test
As well as the civics test, the US naturalization interview tests your English. In the reading test you read a sentence aloud, and in the writing test you write a sentence the officer reads to you: you get up to three tries at each. The sentences use words from USCIS's official reading and writing vocabulary lists, which are mostly about civics and history (like “President”, “vote” and “Independence Day”), so studying the facts below helps with both. Get the official vocabulary lists ↗
Principles of American democracy · 12 facts
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.
What does the Constitution do?
Sets up the government and protects basic rights
It defines the government and protects the basic rights of Americans.
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are they?
We the People
"We the People" shows that the people govern themselves.
What is an amendment?
A change or addition to the Constitution
Amendments change or add to the Constitution.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments, adopted in 1791, are the Bill of Rights.
Which of these is a right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Freedom of speech
The First Amendment protects speech, religion, assembly, press and the right to petition the government.
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
The Constitution has been amended 27 times.
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Announced independence from Great Britain
It declared the colonies free from British rule in 1776.
Which of these is a right in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
The Declaration names life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
What is freedom of religion?
You can practise any religion, or not practise a religion
Americans are free to choose their religion, or no religion.
What is the economic system of the United States?
A capitalist (market) economy
The US has a market economy, also called capitalism.
What is the "rule of law"?
Everyone, including leaders, must follow the law
No one is above the law, including the government.
System of government · 29 facts
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances (separation of powers)
Each branch can limit the others, so power is shared.
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The President
The President leads the executive branch.
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives) makes federal laws.
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
Congress has two chambers: the Senate and the House.
How many US Senators are there?
100
Each of the 50 states has two senators.
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
6
Senators serve six-year terms.
How many voting members does the House of Representatives have?
435
The House has 435 voting members, split among the states by population.
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2
Representatives serve two-year terms.
Why do some states have more Representatives than others?
Because they have more people
House seats are shared out by each state's population.
We elect a President for how many years?
4
A presidential term is four years.
In what month do we vote for President?
November
Presidential elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President
The Vice President is first in line.
If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
The Speaker of the House is next in the line of succession.
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President
The Constitution makes the President Commander in Chief.
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President
A bill passed by Congress becomes law when the President signs it.
Who vetoes bills?
The President
The President can veto (reject) a bill; Congress can override with a two-thirds vote.
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President
Cabinet members lead federal departments and advise the President.
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws and decides if they go against the Constitution
The courts explain laws and settle disputes about them.
What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has the final say on federal law.
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
There are nine justices, including the Chief Justice.
Under the Constitution, which of these powers belongs to the federal government?
Printing money
Printing money, declaring war, creating an army and making treaties are federal powers.
Under the Constitution, which of these powers belongs to the states?
Providing schooling and education
States run schools, police, driver's licences and zoning.
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
Most elected officials belong to one of these two parties.
Which of these is a responsibility only for US citizens?
Serving on a jury
Jury service and voting in federal elections are for citizens only.
Which of these rights is only for US citizens?
Voting in a federal election
Only citizens can vote in federal elections or run for federal office.
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18
The 26th Amendment set the voting age at 18.
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms (usually)?
April 15
Federal tax returns are normally due on April 15.
What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
To obey the laws of the United States
In the Oath of Allegiance you promise to obey the laws, defend the Constitution and give up loyalty to other countries.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States (the flag)
The Pledge is a promise of loyalty to the flag and the United States.
American history · 28 facts
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Religious freedom
Many came for freedom, religious freedom, political liberty or economic opportunity.
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians (Native Americans)
Native Americans lived in North America for thousands of years before Europeans came.
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
Millions of people were taken from Africa and enslaved.
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Because of high taxes without representation
"No taxation without representation": they also objected to British soldiers in their homes.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was its main author.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
It was adopted on July 4, 1776, now Independence Day.
Which of these was one of the 13 original states?
Georgia
The 13 original states ran along the Atlantic coast, from New Hampshire to Georgia.
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
Delegates wrote the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787.
When was the Constitution written?
1787
It was written in 1787.
Which of these people helped write the Federalist Papers?
James Madison
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay wrote them (as "Publius").
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
He was the first Postmaster General
Franklin was also a diplomat, inventor and the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention.
Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
George Washington
George Washington led the army in the Revolution and was the first President.
Who was the first President?
George Washington
George Washington served from 1789 to 1797.
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory
The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubled the size of the country.
Which of these wars did the United States fight in the 1800s?
The War of 1812
Others in the 1800s: the Mexican-American War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.
What was the US war between the North and the South called?
The Civil War
The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865.
What was one problem that led to the Civil War?
Slavery
Slavery, economic reasons and states' rights all played a part.
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
Lincoln also saved the Union and led the country during the Civil War.
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for women's rights
She campaigned for women's right to vote and for civil rights.
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson led the US into the war in 1917.
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt served from 1933 to 1945.
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany and Italy
These were the main Axis powers.
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. Which war was he in?
World War II
Dwight Eisenhower was Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
The US and the Soviet Union competed for decades without fighting a direct war.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The civil rights movement
It peaked in the 1950s and 1960s.
What did Martin Luther King Jr. do?
Fought for civil rights and equality
He led peaceful protests for equality for all Americans.
What major event happened on September 11, 2001?
Terrorists attacked the United States
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.
Which of these is an American Indian tribe in the United States?
Cherokee
Others include the Navajo, Sioux, Apache, Iroquois and Hopi.
Geography, symbols and holidays · 13 facts
Which of these is one of the two longest rivers in the United States?
The Mississippi
The Missouri and the Mississippi are the longest.
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
The Pacific Ocean
California, Oregon and Washington face the Pacific.
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
The Atlantic Ocean
The original 13 colonies were all on the Atlantic coast.
Which of these is a US territory?
Puerto Rico
Others are Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Hawaii is a state.
Which of these states borders Canada?
Montana
Other border states include Maine, New York, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington.
Which of these states borders Mexico?
Arizona
California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas border Mexico.
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has been the capital since 1800.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor
It stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because there were 13 original colonies
The stripes stand for the original colonies.
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
There is one star for each state
A star is added when a state joins.
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814.
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
It marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Which of these is a US national holiday?
Thanksgiving
Others include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
🃏 Test yourself with flashcards
Who makes federal laws?
These facts are the topics the US citizenship civics test is known to ask about. They come from the official USCIS civics questions, but they're a summary: read the official guide too. Questions about who currently holds an office are left out because the answers change, so check those yourself before your test. This site isn't affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).