Citizenship Test Illinois (2025)

What is the supreme law of the 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)

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

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Declared our independence (from Great Britain)

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, Liberty, 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 and 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.

- Legislative (congress)

- Judicial (courts)

- Executive (president)

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Checks and balances

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

The President

Who makes federal laws?

Congress (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?

100

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

6

Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?

Tammy Duckworth

Dick Durbin

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

2

Name your U.S. Representative

Delila C. Ramirez

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

4

In what month do we vote for President?

November

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

Donald J. Trump

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

JD Vance

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

The vice president

If both the President and 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 law?

The President

Who vetoes bills?

The President

What does the president's cabinet do?

Advises the President

What are two cabinet-level positions?

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Education

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Health & Human Services

Secretary of Homeland Security

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Secretary of Interior

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of State

Secretary of Transportation

Secretary of Treasury

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Attorney General

Vice President

What does the judicial branch do?

- Review laws

- Explain laws

- Resolves disputes

- Decides if a law goes against the constitution

What is the highest court in the Unites States?

The Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme court?

9

Who is the Chief Justice of the Unites States?

John Roberts

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

- Approve zoning and land use

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

Who is the Governor of your state?

J.B. Pritzker

What is the capital of your state?

Springfield

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

Democratic and Republican

What is the political party of the President now?

Republican party

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

Mike Johnson

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 can vote)

- A male citizen of any race (can vote)

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

Serve on a jury

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 speech

- The right to bear arms (buy a gun)

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

The United States

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 of the United States

- Serve in the U.S. military (if needed)

- Serve (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?

18 and over

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

- Vote

- Join a political party

- Give an elected official your opinion on an issue

- Call Senators and Representatives

- Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy

run for office

- Write to a newspaper

What is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

Between 18-26

What is one reason colonists came to America?

- Freedom

- Political liberty (right to vote)

- Religious freedom

- Economic opportunity

- Practice their religion

- Escape persecution

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

American Indians or Native Americans

What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

- Africans

- People from Africa

Why did the colonist fight the British?

- High taxes

-The British army stayed in their houses

-No self-government (the government did not care about people's opinions)

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.

- New Hampshire

- Massachusetts

- Rhode Island

- Connecticut

- New York

- New Jersey

- Pennsylvania

- Delaware

- Maryland

- Virginia

- North Carolina

- South Carolina

- Georgia

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

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

He was a U.S. diplomat

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 Abraham Lincoln did?

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

- Freed the slaves

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Fought for women's rights

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

- World War I

- World War II

- Korean War

- Vietnam War

- (Persian) Gulf War

Who was President during world war 1?

Woodrow Wilson

Who was President during the Great Depression and World war II?

Franklin Roosevelt

Who did the U.S. fight in WWII?

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 U.S.?

Communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Civil rights movement

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

- Fought for civil rights

- Fought for equality for all Americans

What major event happened on Sept 11, 2001 in the United States?

Terrorist attacked the United States

Name one American Indian tribe in the U.S.

- Cherokee

- Navajo

Name one of the two longest rivers in the U.S.

Missouri or the Mississippi river

What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

Atlantic Ocean

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States

Pacific Ocean

Name one U.S. territory.

- Puerto Rico

- U.S. Virgin Islands

- American Samoa

- Northern Mariana Islands

- Guam

Name one state that borders Canada.

- Maine

- New Hampshire

- Vermont

- New York

- Pennsylvania

- Ohio, Michigan

- Minnesota

- North Dakota

- Montana

- Idaho

- Washington

- Alaska

Name one state that borders Mexico.

- Arizona

- California

- New Mexico

- 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 50 stars?

There is one star for each state

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

There were 13 original colonies

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

- New Year's Day

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

- Presidents' Day

- Memorial Day

- Independence Day

- Labor Day

- Columbus Day

- Veterans Day

- Thanksgiving

- Christmas