Comprehensive Study Guide for the U.S. Citizenship Civics Test

Principles of American Government

• The Supreme Law of the Land: The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.

• Functions of the Constitution:

  • Sets up the structure of the government.

  • Defines the parameters and limits of the government.

  • Protects the foundational basic rights of all Americans.

• Concept of Self-Government: The idea that the government is of the people is found in the first three words of the Constitution: "We the People."

• Amendments:

  • Definition: A change or an addition to the Constitution.

  • Total count: There are currently $27$ amendments to the Constitution.

• The Bill of Rights: This is the formal name given to the first $10$ amendments to the Constitution.

• First Amendment Rights and Freedoms: The First Amendment protects several rights, including:

  • Speech

  • Religion

  • Assembly

  • Press

  • The right to petition the government.

• The Declaration of Independence:

  • Purpose: It announced the independence of the colonies from Great Britain, declared that independence, and stated the United States was free from Great Britain.

  • Inherent Rights: Three rights identified in the Declaration of Independence are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

• Freedom of Religion: Under the U.S. system, people have the freedom to practice any religion or to not practice a religion at all.

• The U.S. Economic System: The United States operates under a capitalist economy and a market economy.

• The Rule of Law: This principle establishes that everyone must follow the law. This includes leaders and the government itself; no person or entity is above the law.

System of Government

• Branches of Government: The government is divided into parts to prevent any one part from becoming too powerful. These include:

  • Congress (Legislative)

  • The President (Executive)

  • The Courts (Judicial)

• System of Checks and Balances: This system, along with the separation of powers, prevents any single branch of government from accumulating excessive power.

• The Executive Branch: The President is the individual in charge of the executive branch.

• The Legislative Branch (Lawmaking): Federal laws are created by Congress, which consists of the United States or national legislature.

• Composition of the U.S. Congress: Congress is divided into two distinct parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• The U.S. Senate:

  • Total Senators: There are $100$ U.S. Senators.

  • Term Length: U.S. Senators are elected for a term of $6$ years.

  • Representation: U.S. Senators represent all the people of their respective state.

  • State-Specific Representation: The names of specific senators vary by state. District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories do not have U.S. Senators.

• The House of Representatives:

  • Voting Members: The House consists of $435$ voting members.

  • Term Length: U.S. Representatives are elected for a term of $2$ years.

  • Apportionment: Some states have more representatives than others because of the state's population (i.e., they have more people).

  • State-Specific Representation: Names of representatives vary. Residents of territories with nonvoting delegates or resident commissioners may provide those names, or state that the territory has no voting representatives.

• Presidential Elections:

  • Term Length: The President is elected for a term of $4$ years.

  • Election Month: Voting for the President occurs in the month of November.

  • Current Leadership: Names of the current President and Vice President can be found at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.

• Order of Succession:

  • If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes President.

  • If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, the Speaker of the House becomes President.

• Presidential Powers and Responsibilities:

  • Commander in Chief: The President commands the military.

  • Lawmaking: The President signs bills to become laws and has the power to veto bills.

  • The Cabinet: The Cabinet’s role is to advise the President.

• Cabinet-Level Positions: These include the Attorney General, the Vice President, and the Secretaries of:

  • Agriculture

  • Commerce

  • Defense

  • Education

  • Energy

  • Health and Human Services

  • Homeland Security

  • Housing and Urban Development

  • The Interior

  • Labor

  • State

  • Transportation

  • The Treasury

  • Veterans Affairs

• The Judicial Branch:

  • Responsibilities: Reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disputes (disagreements), and decides if a law goes against the Constitution.

  • The Supreme Court: This is the highest court in the United States.

  • Justices: The current number of justices and the name of the Chief Justice are available at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.

• Division of Constitutional Powers:

  • Federal Powers: Powers belonging to the federal government include printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties.

  • State Powers: Powers belonging to the states include providing schooling and education, providing protection (police) and safety (fire departments), issuing driver's licenses, and approving zoning and land use.

• State Leadership and Capitals: The names of state governors and capitals vary by location. District of Columbia residents should note that DC is not a state and therefore has no governor or state capital.

• Political Parties: The two major political parties are the Democratic and Republican parties. The current President's party is listed on the USCIS website.

• Speaker of the House: The current name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives can be found at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.

Rights and Responsibilities

• Voting Rights Amendments: There are four amendments concerning voting eligibility:

  • Citizens who are $18$ and older can vote.

  • Poll taxes are prohibited as a requirement for voting.

  • Any citizen can vote (men and women).

  • Male citizens of any race are eligible to vote.

• Citizen-Specific Responsibilities: Responsibilities exclusive to U.S. citizens include serving on a jury and voting in federal elections.

• Citizen-Specific Rights: Rights exclusive to U.S. citizens include voting in federal elections and running for federal office.

• Rights for Everyone in the U.S.: All people living in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, possess the following rights:

  • Freedom of expression

  • Freedom of speech

  • Freedom of assembly

  • Freedom to petition the government

  • Freedom of religion

  • The right to bear arms

• Pledge of Allegiance: Saying the Pledge shows loyalty to the United States and its flag.

• Promises Made During Naturalization: New citizens promise to:

  • Give up loyalty to other countries.

  • Defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States.

  • Obey the laws of the United States.

  • Serve in the U.S. military if required.

  • Perform important work for the nation if required.

  • Remain loyal to the United States.

• Participation in Democracy: Citizens can participate by voting, joining a political party, helping with campaigns, joining civic or community groups, giving opinions to elected officials, contacting representatives, publicly supporting/opposing policies, running for office, or writing to newspapers.

• Important Deadlines:

  • Federal income tax forms must be sent in by April $15$.

  • Men must register for Selective Service at age $18$, or between the ages of $18$ and $26$.

American History

• Reasons for Colonial Migration: Colonists came to America for freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, or to escape persecution.

• Pre-Colonial America: American Indians (Native Americans) inhabited the land before Europeans arrived.

• Slavery: Africans and people from Africa were brought to America and sold as slaves.

• The Revolutionary War: Colonists fought the British due to high taxes ("taxation without representation"), the quartering of British soldiers in houses, and a lack of self-government.

• The Declaration of Independence: Written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on $07/04/1776$.

• The 13 Original States: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

• The Constitutional Convention: The Constitution was written by the Founding Fathers during this event in $1787$.

• The Federalist Papers: These papers supported the passage of the Constitution. Authors included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Publius.

• Benjamin Franklin’s Achievements: U.S. diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General, writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac," and founder of the first free libraries.

• George Washington: Known as the "Father of Our Country" and served as the first President.

• Expansion in the 1800s: The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in $1803$.

• Wars of the 1800s:

  • War of $1812$

  • Mexican-American War

  • Civil War

  • Spanish-American War

• The Civil War:

  • Participants: The North versus the South (also called the War Between the States).

  • Causes: Slavery, economic reasons, and states' rights.

  • Abraham Lincoln: Led the U.S. during the Civil War, saved/preserved the Union, and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

  • Emancipation Proclamation: Freed slaves in the Confederacy (specifically most Southern states/the Confederate states).

• Susan B. Anthony: Advocated and fought for women's rights and civil rights.

• Wars of the 1900s:

  • World War I

  • World War II

  • Korean War

  • Vietnam War

  • Persian Gulf War

• War-Time Presidents:

  • Woodrow Wilson: President during World War I.

  • Franklin Roosevelt: President during the Great Depression and World War II.

• World War II Details: The U.S. fought against Japan, Germany, and Italy. Dwight D. Eisenhower served as a general in World War II before becoming President.

• The Cold War: The primary concern of the United States during this period was Communism.

• Civil Rights Movement: A movement that sought to end racial discrimination. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent leader who worked for equality for all Americans.

• Recent Events: On $09/11/2001$, terrorists attacked the United States.

• American Indian Tribes: Examples include Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet, Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan, Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, and Inuit.

Integrated Civics

• U.S. Geography:

  • Longest Rivers: The Missouri River and the Mississippi River.

  • Oceans: The Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast; the Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast.

  • Territories: Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

  • States bordering Canada: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.

  • States bordering Mexico: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

  • National Capital: Washington, D.C.

  • Statue of Liberty Location: New York Harbor / Liberty Island (other acceptable answers: New Jersey, near New York City, on the Hudson River).

• National Symbols:

  • Flag Stripes: There are $13$ stripes to represent the original $13$ colonies.

  • Flag Stars: There are $50$ stars, one representing each of the $50$ states.

  • National Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner."

• Holidays:

  • Independence Day: Celebrated on July $4$.

  • 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, and Christmas.