128 Civics Questions and Answers for the 2025 Naturalization Test

Overview of the 2025 Civics Test (M-1778)

Test Version: $2025$ version of the civics test, containing $128$ questions and answers.
Format: The civics test is an oral examination conducted by a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer.
Question Selection: The officer will ask the applicant to answer up to $20$ questions selected from the list of $128$ .
Passing Requirements: To pass the $2025$ version, the applicant must answer at least $12$ questions correctly.
Dynamic Information: Some answers may change due to elections or appointments. Applicants should visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current information and must provide the name of the official serving at the time of their naturalization interview.
Official Answers: While other correct answers may exist, applicants are encouraged to use the specific answers provided in the study guide.

65/20 Special Consideration

Eligibility: This consideration applies to applicants who are $65$ years old or older and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least $20$ years.
Study Requirements: Eligible applicants may study only the $20$ questions marked with an asterisk ( $*$ ) at the end of the question text.
Test Procedure: The officer will ask $10$ out of the $20$ marked questions.
Passing Threshold: Applicants must answer at least $6$ out of $10$ (or $60\%$ ) correctly.
Language Choice: These applicants may take the test in the language of their choice.

Principles of American Government

Form of Government: The United States is a Republic, a Constitution-based federal republic, or a representative democracy.
Supreme Law of the Land: The (U.S.) Constitution ( $*$ ).
Functions of the U.S. Constitution:
- Forms the government.
- Defines the powers of government.
- Defines the parts of government.
- Protects the rights of the people.
The Concept of "We the People": These opening words represent self-government, popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, the idea that people should govern themselves, or an example of a social contract.
Constitutional Changes: Changes are made via Amendments or the amendment process.
The Bill of Rights: Protects the basic rights of Americans and the basic rights of people living in the United States.
Number of Amendments: The U.S. Constitution has twenty-seven ( $27$ ) amendments ( $*$ ).
Importance of the Declaration of Independence:
- It specifies that America is free from British control.
- It states that all people are created equal.
- It identifies inherent rights and individual freedoms.
Document Declaring Freedom from Britain: The Declaration of Independence.
Founding Ideas: Key ideas found in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution include equality, liberty, social contract, natural rights, limited government, and self-government.
Core Rights: The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are found in the Declaration of Independence.
U.S. Economic System: Capitalism or a free market economy ( $*$ ).
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.
Influential Documents: Documents that influenced the U.S. Constitution include the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist Papers, Anti-Federalist Papers, Virginia Declaration of Rights, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Mayflower Compact, and the Iroquois Great Law of Peace.
Structure of Government: There are three branches of government to ensure checks and balances, separation of powers, and to prevent one part from becoming too powerful.

System of Government: The Legislative Branch

The Three Branches: Legislative, executive, and judicial; or Congress, president, and the courts.
National Legislator: The U.S. Congress, the U.S. or national legislature, or the Legislative branch writes federal laws.
Parts of the U.S. Congress: The Senate and House (of Representatives).
Powers of the U.S. Congress ( $*$ ): Writes laws, declares war, and makes the federal budget.
U.S. Senators: There are one hundred ( $100$ ) U.S. senators.
Senator Term Length: A U.S. senator serves for six ( $6$ ) years.
State Senator Identification: Answers vary by state. District of Columbia and U.S. territory residents should state they have no U.S. senators.
House of Representatives Membership: There are four hundred thirty-five ( $435$ ) voting members.
Representative Term Length: A member of the House of Representatives serves for two ( $2$ ) years.
Term Rationale: U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than senators to more closely follow public opinion.
State Representation in the Senate: Each state has two ( $2$ ) senators to ensure equal representation for small states (the Great Compromise / Connecticut Compromise).
U.S. Representative Identification: Answers vary by district. Territory residents may name their nonvoting Delegate or Resident Commissioner.
Speaker of the House ( $*$ ): Applicants must visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name.
Constituent Representation:
- U.S. Senators represent the citizens or people of their state.
- U.S. Representatives represent the citizens or people in their specific (congressional) district.
Electoral Process: Senators are elected by citizens of their state; Representatives are elected by citizens in their district.
Proportional Representation: Some states have more representatives than others because of the state's population (i.e., they have more people).

System of Government: The Executive Branch

Head of the Executive Branch: The President of the United States.
Presidential Term: The President is elected for four ( $4$ ) years ( $*$ ).
Term Limits: The President can serve only two terms because of the $22$ nd Amendment and to keep the president from becoming too powerful.
Current President ( $*$ ): Applicants must check the official website for the current name.
Current Vice President ( $*$ ): Applicants must check the official website for the current name.
Presidential Succession: If the president can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes president.
Presidential Powers:
- Signs bills into law.
- Vetoes bills ( $*$ ).
- Enforces laws.
- Commander in Chief of the military.
- Chief diplomat.
- Appoints federal judges.
Parts of the Executive Branch: The President, the Cabinet, and Federal departments and agencies.
The President's Cabinet: Advises the President of the United States.
Cabinet-Level Positions:
- Attorney General, Vice-President.
- Secretaries of: Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and War (Defense).
- Administrators of: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Small Business Administration (SBA).
- Directors of: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), National Intelligence.
- United States Trade Representative.
Electoral College: Decides who is elected president and provides a compromise between popular election and congressional selection.

System of Government: The Judicial Branch

Parts of the Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and Federal Courts.
Functions of the Judicial Branch: Reviews and explains laws, resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law, and decides if a law goes against the U.S. Constitution.
The Highest Court: The Supreme Court ( $*$ ).
Supreme Court Composition: There are nine ( $9$ ) seats on the Supreme Court.
Deciding a Case: Usually, five ( $5$ ) justices are needed to decide a case.
Justice Tenure: Justices serve for life (lifetime appointment) or until retirement.
Reason for Lifetime Tenure: To remain independent of politics and limit outside political influence.
Chief Justice of the United States: Applicants must check the official website for the current name.

Federal and State Powers

Powers of the Federal Government: Print paper money, mint coins, declare war, create an army, make treaties, and set foreign policy.
Powers of the States: Provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire departments), give a driver’s license, and approve zoning and land use.
The $10$ th Amendment: States that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
Current Governor ( $*$ ): Answers will vary. D.C. residents should state D.C. does not have a governor.
State Capital: Answers will vary. D.C. residents should state D.C. is not a state; territory residents should name the territory capital.

Rights and Responsibilities

Voting Amendments:
- Citizens eighteen ( $18$ ) and older can vote.
- Poll taxes are prohibited (you don't have to pay to vote).
- Any citizen can vote (both men and women).
- Male citizens of any race can vote.
Privileges of Citizenship: Only citizens can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury.
Rights for Everyone in the U.S.: Freedom of expression, speech, assembly, religion, the right to petition the government, and the right to bear arms.
Loyalty and the Pledge of Allegiance ( $*$ ): We show loyalty to the United States and the flag.
Promises in the Oath of Allegiance:
- Give up loyalty to other countries.
- Defend the U.S. Constitution and obey U.S. laws.
- Be loyal to the United States.
- Serve in the military or do important work for the nation if needed.
Gaining Citizenship: By birth in the U.S. (under the $14$ th amendment), naturalization, or deriving citizenship (under conditions set by Congress).
Civic Participation: Voting, running for office, joining political parties or community groups, helping campaigns, and contacting elected officials.
Ways to Serve the Country: Voting, paying taxes, obeying the law, serving in the military, running for office, or working for the government.
Taxation: Paying federal taxes is required by law and the $16$ th Amendment to fund the federal government; it is a civic duty.
Selective Service: All men aged $18$ through $25$ must register to obey the law, fulfill a civic duty, and make the draft fair if needed.

American History: Colonial Period and Independence

Colonial Motivations: Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, and escaping persecution.
Indigenous Population: American Indians or Native Americans lived in America before Europeans arrived ( $*$ ).
Slavery: Africans or people from Africa were taken and sold as slaves.
Independence War: The American Revolution, Revolutionary War, or War for American Independence.
Reasons for the Revolution:
- High taxes (taxation without representation).
- Quartering of British soldiers in American houses.
- Lack of self-government.
- Specific triggers: Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts.
Declaration of Independence Writer: (Thomas) Jefferson ( $*$ ).
Adoption Date: July $4$ , $1776$ .
Revolutionary Events: Battle of Bunker Hill, Declaration of Independence, Washington Crossing the Delaware, Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, and the Battle of Yorktown (British surrender).
The Original states ( $13$ ): New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia.
Document of $1787$ : Title of the founding document written in $1787$ is the (U.S.) Constitution.
Federalist Papers: Support the passage of the Constitution. Writers include (James) Madison, (Alexander) Hamilton, (John) Jay, and Publius.
Benjamin Franklin's Legacy: Founded the first free public libraries, served as the first Postmaster General, helped write the Declaration of Independence, inventor, and U.S. diplomat.
George Washington's Legacy ( $*$ ): "Father of Our Country," first U.S. president, General of the Continental Army, and President of the Constitutional Convention.
Thomas Jefferson's Legacy: Author of the Declaration of Independence, third U.S. president, doubled U.S. size via the Louisiana Purchase, first Secretary of State, founded the University of Virginia.
James Madison's Legacy: "Father of the Constitution," fourth U.S. president, president during the War of $1812$ , and Federalist Papers writer.
Alexander Hamilton's Legacy: First Secretary of the Treasury, Federalist Papers writer, established the First Bank of the United States, aide to George Washington.

American History: The 1800s

Louisiana Purchase: Territory bought from France in $1803$ .
$19$ th-Century Wars: War of $1812$ , Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War.
The Civil War: The war fought between the North and the South.
Civil War Events: Battle of Fort Sumter, Emancipation Proclamation, Battle of Vicksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, Sherman’s March, Appomattox surrender, Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg, and Lincoln's assassination.
Abraham Lincoln's Legacy ( $*$ ): Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), preserved the Union, led the U.S. during the Civil War, $16$ th president, delivered the Gettysburg Address.
Emancipation Proclamation: Freed the slaves in the Confederacy and most Southern states.
The Civil War Outcome: Ended slavery.
The $14$ th Amendment: Defines citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
Suffrage for Men: All men gained the right to vote after the Civil War during Reconstruction (with the $15$ th Amendment in $1870$ ).
Women's Rights Leaders: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Lucretia Mott, and Lucy Stone.

Recent American History

$20$ th-Century Wars: World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, (Persian) Gulf War.
World War I Entry: Due to German attacks on U.S. civilian ships, to support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, Russia), and to oppose the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria).
Women's Suffrage: All women gained the right to vote in $1920$ with the $19$ th Amendment.
The Great Depression: The longest economic recession in modern history, starting with the Stock Market Crash of $1929$ (The Great Crash).
Franklin Roosevelt: President during the Great Depression and World War II.
World War II Entry: Due to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, to support Allied Powers, and oppose Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan).
Dwight Eisenhower's Legacy: General during WWII, president at the end of the Korean War, $34$ th president, signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of $1956$ creating the Interstate System.
The Cold War: Main rival was the Soviet Union (USSR/Russia); main concerns were communism and nuclear war.
Containment Wars: The U.S. entered the Korean and Vietnam Wars to stop the spread of communism.
Civil Rights Movement: Fought to end racial discrimination.
Martin Luther King, Jr. ( $*$ ): Fought for civil rights and worked for equality, emphasizing character over skin color.
Persian Gulf War: U.S. entered to force the Iraqi military from Kuwait.
September $11$ , $2001$ ( $*$ ): Terrorists attacked the U.S., crashing planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
Post- $9/11$ Conflicts: (Global) War on Terror, War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq.
American Indian Tribes: Apache, Blackfeet, Cayuga, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Choctaw, Creek, Crow, Hopi, Huron, Inupiat, Lakota, Mohawk, Mohegan, Navajo, Oneida, Onondaga, Pueblo, Seminole, Seneca, Shawnee, Sioux, Teton, Tuscarora. (Complete list available at bia.gov).
American Innovations: Light bulb, automobile (internal combustion engine), skyscrapers, airplane, assembly line, landing on the moon, and the integrated circuit (IC).

Symbols and Holidays

U.S. Capital: Washington, D.C.
Statue of Liberty: Located in New York Harbor (Liberty Island). Also acceptable: New Jersey, near New York City, on the Hudson River.
The American Flag ( $*$ ):
- $13$ stripes represent the $13$ original colonies.
- $50$ stars represent the $50$ states (one star for each state).
National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner.
First Motto: "E Pluribus Unum," meaning "Out of many, one" or "We all become one."
Independence Day: A holiday to celebrate the country’s birthday and independence from Britain.
National U.S. Holidays ( $*$ ):
- New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday).
- Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day.
- Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day.
- Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
Memorial Day: A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service.
Veterans Day: A holiday to honor people who have served in the U.S. military.