The 100 civics questions published by USCIS are the sole source for the citizenship test. During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 of these questions, and you need to answer 6 correctly. The questions don't change often, but some answers do—particularly those about current officials.
This article lists all 100 questions with the most current answers as of 2025. Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are part of the 65/20 exception list.
Important Note
Some answers change based on elections and appointments. Before your test, verify the current President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, your state's governor, your state's capital, your US Senators, and your US Representative on the official USCIS website.
American Government: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?*
The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
Sets up the government; defines the government; protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
4. What is an amendment?
A change (to the Constitution); an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?*
The Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
Speech; religion; assembly; press; petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Announced our independence (from Great Britain); declared our independence (from Great Britain); said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life; liberty; pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
Capitalist economy; market economy
12. 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
American Government: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
Congress (legislative); President (executive); the courts (judicial)
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances; separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The President
16. Who makes federal laws?
Congress; Senate and House of Representatives; (U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
The Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
One hundred (100)
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Six (6)
20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?*
Answers will vary by state
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Two (2)
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
Answers will vary by congressional district
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
All people of the state
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Because of the state's population; because they have more people; because some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
Four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
Visit uscis.gov for the current answer
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov for the current answer
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
The President
34. Who vetoes bills?
The President
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Commerce; Secretary of Defense; 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; Attorney General; Vice President
37. What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disputes (disagreements); decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov for the current answer
American Government: Rights and Responsibilities
41. 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
42. 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
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
Answers will vary by state
44. What is the capital of your state?*
Answers will vary by state
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
Visit uscis.gov for the current answer
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Visit uscis.gov for the current answer
48-57. (Additional questions about voting, citizenship rights and responsibilities—see our complete 100 questions guide for the full list)
American History
The history section covers three periods: Colonial/Independence, the 1800s, and Recent History. Key questions include:
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?*
Freedom; political liberty; religious freedom; economic opportunity; practice their religion; escape persecution
59-70. Colonial era, Revolutionary War, Founding Fathers, Constitution creation
71-77. Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, amendments 13-15, westward expansion
78-87. WWI, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, Civil Rights, September 11
Integrated Civics
88-95. Geography: longest rivers (Missouri/Mississippi), ocean on West Coast (Pacific), ocean on East Coast (Atlantic), US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam), states bordering Canada and Mexico
96-100. Symbols and holidays: Statue of Liberty (New York Harbor), why the flag has 13 stripes (13 original colonies), why 50 stars (50 states), national anthem (Star-Spangled Banner), national holidays
How to Use This List
Don't try to memorize all 100 at once. Break them into groups of 10-20 and study one group per day. After a week, review all 100 and identify your weak spots. Focus your remaining study time on those.
Remember: the test is oral. Practice saying your answers out loud. If you can read the answer but can't say it from memory, you're not ready yet.
For an interactive practice experience, try our free US civics practice test with instant feedback.