US residents, including green card holders, face an updated civics test for obtaining US citizenship. Lawful permanent residents must complete USCIS’s modified 2025 civics test to obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
USCIS will implement the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test for individuals submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, starting October 20, 2025. Applicants who file before this date will follow the 2008 Naturalization Civics Test.
USCIS has announced updated naturalization civics test questions that green card holders and others must answer to qualify for U.S. citizenship. Naturalization is the process of becoming an American citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If a green card holder meets the eligibility conditions, they may apply for Naturalization using Form N-400.
2025 Citizenship Civics Test
A critical change in the Naturalization process has been the implementation of the updated 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. The 2025 naturalization civics test is designed to ensure that only eligible foreigners with requisite English skills and knowledge of U.S. government and civics can become citizens, thus facilitating their assimilation and contribution to America.
Citizenship Test 2025
The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test is an oral test and the USCIS officer will ask you to answer up to 20 out of the 128 civics test questions. You must answer at least 12 questions correctly to pass the 2025 version of the civics test.
One will fail the test if they answer 9 of the 20 questions incorrectly. Officers will stop asking questions when the foreigners answer 12 questions correctly or 9 questions incorrectly.
If you are 65 years old or older and have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, USCIS will continue to administer a test with 10 questions from a specially selected bank of 20 test questions from either the 2008 or 2025 test, based on when you file Form N-400. You may also take the naturalization test in the language of your choice.
Citizenship Test Questions 2025
Listed below are the 128 civics questions and answers for the 2025 version of the civics test. These questions cover important topics about the American government and history.
On the civics test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. You must answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Government
- What is the form of government of the United States? Republic
Constitution-based federal republic
Representative democracy - What is the supreme law of the land? (U.S.) Constitution
- Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. Forms the government
Defines powers of government
Defines the parts of government
Protects the rights of the people - The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean? Self-government
Popular sovereignty
Consent of the governed
People should govern themselves
(Example of) social contract - How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
The amendment process - What does the Bill of Rights protect?
(The basic) rights of Americans
(The basic) rights of people living in the United States - How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27) - Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says America is free from British control.
It says all people are created equal.
It identifies inherent rights.
It identifies individual freedoms. - What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence - Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality
Liberty
Social contract
Natural rights
Limited government
Self-government - The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
Declaration of Independence - What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism
Free market economy - 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. - Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalist Papers
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Mayflower Compact
Iroquois Great Law of Peace - There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
B: System of Government
- Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial
Congress, president, and the courts - The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch - What part of the federal government writes laws?
(U.S.) Congress
(U.S. or national) legislature
Legislative branch - What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House (of Representatives) - Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws
Declares war
Makes the federal budget - How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100) - How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years - Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. senators.] - How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435) - How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years - Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion - How many senators does each state have?
Two (2) - Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation (for small states)
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) - Name your U.S. representative.
Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide
the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting)
representatives in Congress.] - What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. - Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state
People of their state - Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state - Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their (congressional) district
Citizens in their district
People from their (congressional) district
People in their district - Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their (congressional) district - Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
(Because of) the state’s population
(Because) they have more people
(Because) some states have more people - The President of the United States is elected for how many years? *
Four (4) years - The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
(Because of) the 22nd Amendment
To keep the president from becoming too powerful - What is the name of the President of the United States now? *
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States. - What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? *
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States. - If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President (of the United States) - Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law
Vetoes bills
Enforces laws
Commander in Chief (of the military)
Chief diplomat
Appoints federal judges - Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President (of the United States) - Who signs bills to become laws?
The President (of the United States) - Who vetoes bills?
The President (of the United States) - Who appoints federal judges?
The President (of the United States) - The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
President (of the United States)
Cabinet
Federal departments and agencies - What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President (of the United States) - What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
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
Secretary of War (Defense)
Vice-President
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of National Intelligence
United States Trade Representative - Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president.
It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection. - What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court
Federal Courts - What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution - What is the highest court in the United States? *
Supreme Court - How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9) - How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5) - How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
(For) life
Lifetime appointment
(Until) retirement - Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent (of politics)
To limit outside (political) influence - Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States. - Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money
Mint coins
Declare war
Create an army
Make treaties
Set foreign policy - Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver’s license
Approve zoning and land use - What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people. - Who is the governor of your state now? *
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.] - What is the capital of your state?
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a
capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
C: Rights and Responsibilities
- There are four amendments to the U.S. 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). - Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens
Citizens of the United States
U.S. citizens - What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of expression
Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom of religion
The right to bear arms - What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? *
The United States
The flag - Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries
Defend the (U.S.) Constitution
Obey the laws of the United States
Serve in the military (if needed)
Serve (help, do important work for) the nation (if needed)
Be loyal to the United States - How can people become United States citizens?
Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment
Naturalize
Derive citizenship (under conditions set by Congress) - What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote
Run for office
Join a political party
Help with a campaign
Join a civic group
Join a community group
Give an elected official your opinion (on an issue)
Contact elected officials
Support or oppose an issue or policy
Write to a newspaper - What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Vote
Pay taxes
Obey the law
Serve in the military
Run for office
Work for local, state, or federal government - Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
All people pay to fund the federal government
Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment)
Civic duty - It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law
Civic duty
Makes the draft fair, if needed
A: Colonial Period and Independence
- The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Freedom
Political liberty
Religious freedom
Economic opportunity
Escape persecution - Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? *
American Indians
Native Americans - What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans
People from Africa - What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
The (American) Revolutionary War
War for (American) Independence - Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
High taxes
Taxation without representation
British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses (boarding, quartering)
They did not have self-government
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party (Tea Act)
Stamp Act
Sugar Act
Townshend Acts
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts - Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? *
(Thomas) Jefferson - When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 177 - The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Bunker Hill
Declaration of Independence
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
(Battle of) Saratoga
Valley Forge (Encampment)
(Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown) - There were 13 original states. Name five.
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia - What founding document was written in 1787?
(U.S.) Constitution - The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
Publius - Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution.
They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution. - Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Founded the first free public libraries
First Postmaster General of the United States
Helped write the Declaration of Independence
Inventor
U.S. diplomat - George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
“Father of Our Country”
First president of the United States
General of the Continental Army
President of the Constitutional Convention - Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
Third president of the United States
Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase)
First Secretary of State
Founded the University of Virginia
Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom - James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
“Father of the Constitution”
Fourth president of the United States
President during the War of 1812
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers - Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
Helped establish the First Bank of the United States
Aide to General George Washington
Member of the Continental Congress
B: 1800s
- What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana Territory
Louisiana - Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War - Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War - The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Fort Sumter
Emancipation Proclamation
(Battle of) Vicksburg
(Battle of) Gettysburg
Sherman’s March
(Surrender at) Appomattox
(Battle of) Antietam/Sharpsburg
Lincoln was assassinated. - Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. *
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
Saved (or preserved) the Union
Led the United States during the Civil War
16th president of the United States
Delivered the Gettysburg Address - What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
Freed slaves in the Confederacy
Freed slaves in the Confederate states
Freed slaves in most Southern states - What U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War - What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
14th Amendment - When did all men get the right to vote?
After the Civil War
During Reconstruction
(With the) 15th Amendment
1870 - Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
Lucretia Mott
Lucy Stone
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
- Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War - Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia)
To oppose the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) - When did all women get the right to vote?
1920
After World War I
(With the) 19th Amendment - What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history - When did the Great Depression start?
The Great Crash (1929)
Stock market crash of 1929 - Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt - Why did the United States enter World War II?
(Bombing of) Pearl Harbor
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
To support the Allied Powers (England, France, and Russia)
To oppose the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) - Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
President at the end of (during) the Korean War
34th president of the United States
Signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Created the Interstate System) - Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
USSR
Russia - During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism
Nuclear war - Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism - Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism - What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination - Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. *
Fought for civil rights
Worked for equality for all Americans
Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content
of their character” - Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait - What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? *
Terrorists attacked the United States
Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City
Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania - Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
(Global) War on Terror
War in Afghanistan
War in Iraq - Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
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
For a complete list of tribes, please visit bia.gov. - Name one example of an American innovation.
Light bulb
Automobile (cars, internal combustion engine)
Skyscrapers
Airplane
Assembly line
Landing on the moon
Integrated circuit (IC)
SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS
A: Symbols
- What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C. - Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York (Harbor)
Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).] - Why does the flag have 13 stripes? *
(Because there were) 13 original colonies
(Because the stripes) represent the original colonies - Why does the flag have 50 stars?
(Because there is) one star for each state
(Because) each star represents a state
(Because there are) 50 states - What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner - The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Out of many, one
We all become one
B: Holidays
- What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
The country’s birthday - Name three 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 - What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service - What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military
A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)