The 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers for the naturalization test are listed below. The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS Officer will ask the applicant up to 10 of the 100 civics questions. An applicant must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: 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
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress President the courts
legislative executive 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?*
Nevada: Catherine Cortez Masto (D) Jadky Rosen (D)
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.
Nevada: Dina Titus (D); Mark Amode (R); Susie Lee (D)
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?*
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
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 the Interior
Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Defense Secretary of State
Secretary of Education Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security Attorney General
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Vice President
37. What does the judicial branch do?
reviews lawsr esolves disputes (disagreements)
explains laws 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?
John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
to print money to create an army
to declare war to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
provide schooling and education give a driver’s license
provide protection (police) approve zoning and land use
provide safety (fire departments)
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
Nevada: Steve Sisolak
44. What is the capital of your state?*
Carson City, Nv.
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?
Democratic (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. 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).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
serve on a jury
vote in a federal election
50. Name one right only for United States citizens.
vote in a federal election
run for federal office
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