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The official 100 questions of the 2008 civics test, three ways: flashcards, a graded practice test, and the full list to browse. This is the version for applications filed before October 20, 2025, where the officer asks up to ten and six correct answers pass. Filed on or after that date? You take the 2025 test instead.
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 or 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, or petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Announced our independence from Great Britain
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion
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
Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress (legislative), the President (executive), or the courts (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 — the Senate and House of Representatives
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
How many U.S. Senators are there?
One hundred (100)
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Six (6)
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Depends on your state — check who your Senators are today
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Two (2)
Name your U.S. Representative.
Depends on your district — check who represents you today
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Because of the state’s population
We elect a President for how many years?
Four (4)
In what month do we vote for President?
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Changes with elections — check the current official answer
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Changes with elections — check the current official answer
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
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 does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
For example: Secretary of State and Secretary of Labor — any two Cabinet positions
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?
Check the current official answer — the number is set by law and can change
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Check the current official answer
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
To print money, declare war, create an army, or make treaties
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education, protection (police), safety (fire departments), give a driver’s license, approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Depends on your state — check who your Governor is today
What is the capital of your state?
Depends on your state
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Changes with elections — check the current official answer
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Check the current official answer
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote; you don’t have to pay a poll tax to vote; any citizen can vote (women and men); a male citizen of any race can vote
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury; vote in a federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens.
Vote in a federal election; run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of expression, speech, assembly, petition, religion; the right to bear arms
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States; the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Give up loyalty to other countries; defend the Constitution and laws of the United States; obey the laws; serve in the military or do important work for the nation if needed; be loyal to the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
Eighteen (18) and older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Vote, join a party, help a campaign, join a civic group, give an elected official your opinion, call Senators and Representatives, run for office, write to a newspaper
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 eighteen (18); between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, practice their religion, escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians; Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans; people from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Because of high taxes (taxation without representation), the British army stayed in their houses, they didn’t have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name three.
For example: New York, New Jersey, and Virginia — any three of the thirteen
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
When was the 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, or “Publius”
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S. diplomat; oldest member of the Constitutional Convention; first Postmaster General; writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”; started the first free libraries
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
George Washington
Who was the first President?
George Washington
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
Slavery, economic reasons, states’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation); saved (or preserved) the Union; led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves in the Confederacy
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for women’s rights and civil rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, and Italy
Before he was President, 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 movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The civil rights movement
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.
For example: Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Apache — any federally recognized tribe
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
The Missouri River or the Mississippi River
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
The Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
The Atlantic Ocean
Name one U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
For example: Washington, New York, Michigan — any of the thirteen border states
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor; Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because there were 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because there is one star for each state — 50 states
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
For example: Independence Day and Thanksgiving — New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
These are the official civics questions from the USCIS study materials. A few answers change with elections or depend on your state — they are marked, and the current official answers are on the USCIS study page. Which test version you take depends on your filing date. Filed on or after October 20, 2025? The official 2025 questions are in the civics test guide’s study materials.
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