U.S. Civics Test (2025 Version) Vocabulary

Key vocabulary and constitutional principles derived from the 2025 version of the 128 U.S. civics questions for the naturalization test.

Form of government of the United States

Republic, Constitution-based federal republic, or representative democracy.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the land that forms the government, defines its powers, and protects the rights of the people.

"We the People"

The first words of the U.S. Constitution representing self-government, popular sovereignty, the consent of the governed, and the social contract.

Bill of Rights

A document that protects the basic rights of Americans; the U.S. Constitution has Twenty-seven ($27$) amendments in total.

Declaration of Independence

The founding document written by Jefferson and adopted on July $4$, $1776$, which says America is free from British control.

U.S. Economic System

Capitalism or free market economy.

Rule of law

The principle that no one is above the law, and everyone, including leaders and the government, must obey it.

Checks and balances

A system, along with separation of powers, used to ensure that one branch of government does not become too powerful.

Legislative branch

The part of the federal government, consisting of the U.S. Congress, that writes laws and makes the federal budget.

Executive branch

The branch of government led by the President that signs and vetoes bills, enforces laws, and serves as Commander in Chief.

Judicial branch

The branch consisting of the Supreme Court and federal courts that reviews and explains laws or decides if they go against the U.S. Constitution.

Electoral College

The system that decides who is elected president, providing a compromise between popular election and congressional selection.

10th Amendment

States that the powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

14th Amendment

States that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are U.S. citizens.

16th Amendment

The amendment that requires the payment of federal taxes by all people to fund the federal government.

Selective Service

Registration required by law for all men age $18$ through $25$ to make the draft fair if needed.

Federalist Papers

A series of documents written by Madison, Hamilton, Jay, and Publius to support the passage of the U.S. Constitution.

Louisiana Territory

The land that the United States bought from France in $1803$, doubling the size of the country.

Emancipation Proclamation

The document that freed slaves in the Confederacy and led to the end of slavery following the Civil War.

Great Depression

The longest economic recession in modern history which began with the stock market crash of $1929$.

Cold War

The period where the Soviet Union ($USSR$) was the main rival of the United States and communism was a primary concern.

Civil rights movement

A movement that fought to end racial discrimination and worked for equality for all Americans.

E Pluribus Unum

The first motto of the United States, meaning "Out of many, one."

Memorial Day

A national U.S. holiday held to honor soldiers who died in military service.