100 commonly asked questions in the U.S. naturalization (citizenship) test, along with their answers

Here are 50 commonly asked questions in the U.S. naturalization (citizenship) test, along with their answers. These questions are based on the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test.
U.S. History and Government Questions
- What is the supreme law of the land?
- The Constitution
- What does the Constitution do?
- Sets up the government
- Defines the government
- Protects basic rights of Americans
- The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
- “We the People”
- What is an amendment?
- A change (to the Constitution)
- An addition (to the Constitution)
- What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
- The Bill of Rights
- What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
- Speech
- Religion
- Assembly
- Press
- Petition the government
- How many amendments does the Constitution have?
- 27
- What did the Declaration of Independence do?
- Announced our independence (from Great Britain)
- Declared our independence
- Said that the United States is free
- What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
- Life
- Liberty
- Pursuit of happiness
- What is the economic system in the United States?
- Capitalist economy
- Market economy
- 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
U.S. Government (Structure & Officials)
- Name one branch of the government.
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judicial
- What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
- Who is in charge of the executive branch?
- The President
- Who makes federal laws?
- Congress
- Senate and House of Representatives
- U.S. or national legislature
- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- The Senate and House of Representatives
- How many U.S. Senators are there?
- 100
- We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
- 6 years
- The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
- 435
- We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
- 2 years
- Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
- All people of the state
- Why do some states have more Representatives than others?
- Because of the state’s population
- Because some states have more people
- We elect a President for how many years?
- 4 years
- In what month do we vote for President?
- November
- What is the name of the current President of the United States?
- (Check the current president on USCIS website)
- What is the name of the current Vice President of the United States?
- (Check the current vice president on USCIS website)
- If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
- The Vice President
- Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
- The President
- Who signs bills to become laws?
- The President
- Who vetoes bills?
- The President
- What are two Cabinet-level positions?
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of Education
- Attorney General (any two)
- What does the judicial branch do?
- Reviews laws
- Explains laws
- Resolves disputes
- Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
- What is the highest court in the United States?
- The Supreme Court
- How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
- 9
- Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
- (Check the current Chief Justice on USCIS website)
- Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
- To print money
- To declare war
- To create an army
- To make treaties
- Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
- Provide schooling and education
- Provide protection (police)
- Provide safety (fire departments)
- Give a driver’s license
- Who is the Governor of your state now?
- (Check your state’s governor on USCIS website)
- What is the capital of your state?
- (Answer varies by state)
- What are the two major political parties in the United States?
- Democratic and Republican
- What is the political party of the President now?
- (Check the current President’s party on USCIS website)
- What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- (Check the current Speaker of the House on USCIS website)
Rights, Responsibilities, and U.S. History
- There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Name one.
- Citizens 18 and older can vote
- No poll tax
- Women can vote
- Any male citizen can vote
- What is one responsibility that is only for U.S. citizens?
- Serve on a jury
- Vote in a federal election
- Name one right only for U.S. citizens.
- Vote in a federal election
- Run for federal office
- When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
- July 4, 1776
- Who was the first President?
- George Washington
- What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
- Civil Rights Movement
- What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
- Terrorists attacked the United States
- Why does the flag have 50 stars?
- Because there are 50 states
These are officially recognized questions from the USCIS civics test for U.S. citizenship. During the naturalization interview, the immigration officer will ask up to 10 questions from a list of 100 possible questions, and the applicant must answer at least 6 correctly to pass.
Here are 50 additional questions that could be asked during a U.S. citizenship test, different from the first set. These questions cover U.S. history, government, geography, rights, and responsibilities.
U.S. History Questions
- Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
- Native Americans / American Indians
- What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
- Africans
- Why did the colonists fight the British?
- High taxes (taxation without representation)
- The British army stayed in their homes (quartering)
- They didn’t have self-government
- Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- Thomas Jefferson
- When was the U.S. Constitution written?
- 1787
- The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
- James Madison
- Alexander Hamilton
- John Jay
- What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
- U.S. diplomat
- Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
- First Postmaster General of the U.S.
- Writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
- Who is known as the “Father of Our Country”?
- George Washington
- What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
- The Louisiana Territory (Louisiana Purchase)
- Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
- What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
- Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
- Preserved the Union
- Led the U.S. during the Civil War
- What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- Freed the slaves in the Confederate states
- What did Susan B. Anthony do?
- Fought for women’s rights and civil rights
- Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s.
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Persian Gulf War
- Who was President during World War I?
- Woodrow Wilson
- Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Who did the United States fight in World War II?
- Japan, Germany, and Italy
- Before he was President, Dwight Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
- World War II
- During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
- Communism
- What did Martin Luther King Jr. do?
- Fought for civil rights
- Worked for equality for all Americans
- What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
- Terrorists attacked the United States
- Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
- Cherokee
- Navajo
- Sioux
- Apache
- Iroquois (and many others)
U.S. Government Questions
- What is one promise you make when you become a U.S. citizen?
- Give up loyalty to other countries
- Defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S.
- Serve in the military if needed
- How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
- 18 and older
- When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
- April 15
- When must all men register for the Selective Service?
- At age 18
- What is one reason colonists came to America?
- Freedom
- Economic opportunity
- Escape persecution
- What are two rights of everyone living in the U.S.?
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of religion
- What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
- Vote
- Join a political party
- Run for office
- Who was the U.S. President during the Civil War?
- Abraham Lincoln
- What does the President’s Cabinet do?
- Advises the President
- What is the highest court in the U.S.?
- The Supreme Court
- How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
- 9
- What are the two longest rivers in the U.S.?
- Missouri River
- Mississippi River
- What ocean is on the west coast of the U.S.?
- Pacific Ocean
- What ocean is on the east coast of the U.S.?
- Atlantic Ocean
- Name one U.S. territory.
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Name one state that borders Canada.
- Alaska
- Maine
- New York
- Washington (and others)
- Name one state that borders Mexico.
- California
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Texas
- What is the capital of the U.S.?
- Washington, D.C.
- Where is the Statue of Liberty?
- New York (Liberty Island)
- Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
- They represent the 13 original colonies
- What is the national anthem of the United States?
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- What is the motto of the U.S.?
- “In God We Trust”
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
- (Check the current senator for your state)
- What is one thing that only U.S. citizens can do?
- Vote in a federal election
- Who was the leader of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War?
- George Washington
- What are the three branches of government?
- Executive
- Legislative
- Judicial
- What was the main issue that led to the Civil War?
- Slavery
- What is Independence Day?
- The celebration of America’s independence from Britain on July 4th