USCIS Civics (History & Government) Naturalization Test — Key Vocabulary

100 vocabulary flashcards summarizing the key terms and ideas covered in the USCIS civics (history and government) naturalization test material.

The supreme law of the land that sets up, defines, and protects the U.S. government and Americans’ basic rights.

Constitution

The first three words of the Constitution that express the idea of self-government.

We the People

Amendment

A change or addition to the Constitution.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

One right or freedom from the First Amendment

The freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition.

Declaration of Independence

Announced our independence

Two rights in the Declaration of Independence

Life and liberty

Third unalienable right listed in the Declaration of Independence.

Freedom of Religion

The right to practice any religion or none at all.

The economic system of the United States

Capitalist (Market) Economy

Rule of Law

Everyone must obey the law

Congress

The national legislature that makes federal laws; composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Legislative Branch

Branch of government (Congress) that makes laws.

Executive Branch

Branch led by the President that enforces laws.

Judicial Branch

Branch (the courts) that reviews laws and decides if they follow the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

System that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Separation of Powers

Division of governmental power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

President

Head of the executive branch; signs or vetoes bills and serves as Commander in Chief.

U.S. Senate

One of two parts of Congress; has 100 members elected for six-year terms.

U.S. Senator

A member of the Senate who represents all people of a state.

House of Representatives

Part of Congress with 435 voting members elected for two-year terms.

U.S. Representative

Member of the House who represents district residents based on state population.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House who is next in line for the presidency after the Vice President.

November

Month in which Americans vote for President.

Vice President

Succeeds the President and presides over the Senate; member of the Cabinet.

Commander in Chief

Title of the President as head of the U.S. military.

Veto

The President’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Cabinet

Group of senior officials who advise the President; heads of executive departments.

Secretary of State

Cabinet-level official responsible for foreign affairs.

Secretary of Defense

Cabinet-level official in charge of the armed forces.

Attorney General

Head of the Department of Justice and chief law officer of the United States.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States.

Chief Justice of the United States

Presiding officer of the Supreme Court.

Federal Powers

National powers such as printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties.

State Powers

Powers reserved to states, including schooling, police, safety, driver’s licenses, and zoning.

Governor

Head of a state’s executive branch.

State Capital

City where a state’s government is based.

Democratic Party

One of the two major political parties in the United States.

Republican Party

One of the two major political parties in the United States.

Jury Service

A responsibility only for U.S. citizens to serve on a jury when summoned.

Voting in Federal Elections

A right and responsibility only for U.S. citizens aged 18 and older.

Freedom of Expression

Right of everyone in the U.S. to express ideas freely.

Pledge of Allegiance

A promise of loyalty to the United States and the flag.

Selective Service

System requiring men to register for potential military service at age 18.

Colonists

Early European settlers who came to America seeking freedom and opportunity.

American Indians / Native Americans

Peoples who lived in America before Europeans arrived.

Africans

Group forcibly taken to America and sold as slaves.

Taxation without Representation

Major grievance that led colonists to fight the British.

Thomas Jefferson

Primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

July 4, 1776

Date the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting where the U.S. Constitution was written.

The Federalist Papers

Essays supporting the Constitution written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay (Publius).

Benjamin Franklin

Famous as a U.S. diplomat, oldest Convention member, first Postmaster General, author, and library founder.

George Washington

Known as the “Father of Our Country” and first President of the United States.

Louisiana Purchase

Territory bought from France in 1803.

Civil War

U.S. war (1861-1865) between the North and the South.

Slavery

Practice of human bondage that was a central cause of the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln

President during the Civil War who issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Emancipation Proclamation

1863 order that freed slaves in the Confederate states.

Susan B. Anthony

Activist who fought for women’s and civil rights.

World War I

Global war (1914-1918); U.S. President was Woodrow Wilson.

World War II

War (1939-1945) in which the U.S. fought Japan, Germany, and Italy; led by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

World War II general who later became U.S. President.

Cold War

Era of tension with the main concern of communism.

Civil Rights Movement

Movement that sought to end racial discrimination.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Leader who fought for civil rights and equality for all Americans.

September 11, 2001

Date of terrorist attacks on the United States.

Cherokee

Example of a federally recognized American Indian tribe (others include Navajo, Sioux, etc.).

Mississippi River

One of the two longest rivers in the United States.

Missouri River

The other of the two longest rivers in the United States.

Pacific Ocean

Ocean on the West Coast of the United States.

Atlantic Ocean

Ocean on the East Coast of the United States.

Puerto Rico

A U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea.

Guam

A U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean.

Canada Border States

States such as Maine, New York, Michigan, Washington, and Alaska that share a border with Canada.

Mexico Border States

California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, which border Mexico.

Washington, D.C.

The capital of the United States.

Statue of Liberty

Monument located in New York Harbor on Liberty Island.

Thirteen Stripes

Represent the 13 original colonies on the U.S. flag.

Fifty Stars

Represent the 50 states on the U.S. flag.

The Star-Spangled Banner

National anthem of the United States.

Independence Day

U.S. holiday celebrated on July 4.

Thanksgiving

National holiday observed in November to give thanks.

Veterans Day

Holiday honoring military veterans.

Memorial Day

Holiday honoring those who died in military service.

Presidents’ Day

Federal holiday recognizing U.S. Presidents, celebrated in February.

Labor Day

Federal holiday celebrating workers, observed in September.

New Year’s Day

Federal holiday celebrated on January 1.

Columbus Day

Federal holiday observed in October marking Columbus’s arrival in the Americas.

April 15

Deadline for sending in federal income tax forms.

Poll Tax

Fee once required to vote, prohibited by a constitutional amendment.

Equal Suffrage

Principle that any citizen, regardless of gender or race, can vote.

Campaign

Organized effort to win political office.

Civic Group

Community organization for public affairs participation.

Petition

Formal request to government protected under the First Amendment.

Treaty

Formal agreement with another country; power of the federal government.

Zoning

Local land-use regulation, a power reserved to states and localities.

Freedom of Assembly

Right of people to gather peacefully.

Right to Bear Arms

Second-Amendment right to possess firearms.