U.S. Citizenship test 2025 PA

What is the form of government of the United States?

Republic
Constitution-based federal republic
Representative democracy

What is the supreme law of the land?*

The U.S. Constitution

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

Forms the government
Defines the powers of government
Defines the parts of government
Protects the rights of the people

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

Self-government
Popular sovereignty
Consent of the governed
People should govern themselves
(Example of) social contract

How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

Amendments
The amendment process

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

(The basic) rights of Americans
(The basic) rights of people living in the United States

How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

27

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

It identifies individual freedoms.
It identifies inherent rights.
It says all people are created equal.
It says America is free from British control.

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

The Declaration of Independence

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Equality
Liberty
Social contract
Natural rights
Limited government
Self-government

The words “Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what foundiung document?

Declaration of Independence

What is the economic system of the United States?

Capitalism
Free market economy

What is the rule of law?

Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
The government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.

Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one

The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Federalist Papers
The Anti-Federalist Papers
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Mayflower Compact
The Iroquois Great Law of Peace

There are three branches of government. Why?

So one part does not become too powerful
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Section B: System of Government

Name the three branches of government.

Legislative, executive, and Judicial

Congress, President, and the courts

The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

The Executive branch

What part of the federal government writes laws?

(U.S.) Congress
(U.S. or national) legislature
Legislative branch

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

The Senate and House (of Representatives)

Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

Writes laws
Declares war
Makes the federal budges

How many U.S. senators are there?

100

How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

Six years.

Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?

John Fettermen
David MCormick

how many voting members are in the House of Representative?

435

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

two years.

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

To more closely follow public opinion.

How many senators does each state have?

Two.

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation (for small states)
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Name your U.S. representative.

Daniel Meuser

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?*

Mike Johnson

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

Citizens of their state.
People of their state.

Who elects U.S. senators?

Citizens from their state.

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

Citizens in their (congressional) district.
Citizens in their district.
People from their (congressional) district.
People in their district.

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

Citizens from their (congressional) district.

Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

(Because of) the state’s population
(Because) they have more people
(Because) some states have more people

The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

Four years.

The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

(Because of) the 22nd Amendment
To keep the president from becoming too powerful

What is the name of the President of the United States now?

Donald J Trump
Donald Trump
Trump

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

JD Vance
Vance

If the president can no longer serve

who becomes president?

Name one power of the president.

Signs bills into law
Vetoes bills
Enforces laws
Commander in Chief (of the military)
Chief diplomat
Appoints federal judges

Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

The President (of the United States)

Who signs bills to become laws?

The President (of the United States)

Who vetoes bills?

The President (of the United States)

Who appoints federal judges?

The President (of the United States)

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

The President (of the United States)
The Cabinet
Federal departments and agencies

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Advises the President (of the United States)

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Attorney General
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
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
Secretary of War (Defense)
Vice-President
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of National Intelligence
United States Trade Representative

Why is the Electoral College important?

It decides who is elected president.
It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.

What is one part of the judicial branch?

The Supreme Court
The Federal Courts

What does the judicial branch do?

Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution

What is the highest court in the United States?

The Supreme Court

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

Nine.

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

Five.

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

(For) life
Lifetime appointment
(Until) retirement

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

To be independent (of politics)
To limit outside (political) influence

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts
John G. Robert. Jr
Roberts

Name one power that is only for the federal government.

Print paper money
Mint coins
Declare war
Create an army
Make treaties
Set foreign policy

Name one power that is only for the states.

Provide schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver’s license
Approve zoning and land use

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people

Who is the governor of your state now?

Josh Shapiro

What is the capital of your state?

Harrisburg

There are four amendments to the U.S. 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 can vote.)
A male citizen of any race (can vote).

Who can vote in federal elections

citizens

citzens of the United States

U.S. ditizens

What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?

Freedom of expression
Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom of religion
The right to bear arms

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

The United States
The flag

Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.

Give up loyalty to other countries
Defend the (U.S.) Constitution
Obey the laws of the United States
Serve in the military (if needed)
Serve (help

How can people become United States citizens?

Be born in the United States

What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

Vote
Run for office
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)
Contact elected officials
Support or oppose an issue or policy
Write to a newspaper

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Vote
Pay taxes
Obey the law
Serve in the military
Run for office
Work for local

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

It’s required by law
All people pay to fund the federal government
It’s required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment)
It’s civic duty

It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.

It’s required by law
It’s civic duty
It makes the draft fair

The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.

Freedom
Political liberty
Religious freedom
Economic opportunity
Escape persecution

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? *

Native Americans
American Indians

What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

Africans
People from Africa

What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

The American Revolution
The (American) Revolutionary War
The War for (American) Independence

Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

High taxes
Taxation without representation
British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses (boarding

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?*

(Thomas) Jefferson

79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4

The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.

(Battle of) Bunker Hill
Declaration of Independence
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
(Battle of) Saratoga
Valley Forge (Encampment)
(Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)

There were 13 original states. Name five.

New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

What founding document was written in 1787?

The (U.S.) Constitution.

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

(James) Madison.
(Alexander) Hamilton.
(John) Jay.
Publius.

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution.
They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

Founded the first free public libraries.
First Postmaster General of the United States.
Helped write the Declaration of Independence.
Inventor.
U.S. diplomat.

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.*

“Father of Our Country.”
First president of the United States.
General of the Continental Army.
President of the Constitutional Convention.

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Writer of the Declaration of Independence.
Third president of the United States.
Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase).
First Secretary of State.
Founded the University of Virginia.
Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom.

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

“Father of the Constitution.”
Fourth president of the United States.
President during the War of 1812.
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers.

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

First Secretary of the Treasury.
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers.
Helped establish the First Bank of the United States.
Aide to General George Washington.
Member of the Continental Congress.
Section B: 1800s

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana Territory.
Louisiana.

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.

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

(Battle of) Fort Sumter.
Emancipation Proclamation.
(Battle of) Vicksburg.
(Battle of) Gettysburg.
Sherman’s March.
(Surrender at) Appomattox.
(Battle of) Antietam/Sharpsburg.
Lincoln was assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. *

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation).
Saved (or preserved) the Union.
Led the United States during the Civil War.
16th president of the United States.
Delivered the Gettysburg Address.

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.

What U.S. war ended slavery?

The Civil War.

What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States

14th amendment

When did all men get the right to vote?

After the Civil War.
During Reconstruction.
(With the) 15th Amendment.
1870

Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.

Susan B. Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
Lucretia Mott
Lucy Stone
Section C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War