Citizenship Test Ready

All 128 civics questions

American Government

Principles of American Government

  1. 1What is the form of government of the United States?
  2. 2What is the supreme law of the land?
  3. 3Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
  4. 4The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
  5. 5How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
  6. 6What does the Bill of Rights protect?
  7. 7How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
  8. 8Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
  9. 9What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
  10. 10Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
  11. 11The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
  12. 12What is the economic system of the United States?
  13. 13What is the rule of law?
  14. 14Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
  15. 15There are three branches of government. Why?

System of Government

  1. 16Name the three branches of government.
  2. 17The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
  3. 18What part of the federal government writes laws?
  4. 19What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
  5. 20Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
  6. 21How many U.S. senators are there?
  7. 22How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
  8. 23Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
  9. 24How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
  10. 25How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
  11. 26Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
  12. 27How many senators does each state have?
  13. 28Why does each state have two senators?
  14. 29Name your U.S. representative.
  15. 30What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
  16. 31Who does a U.S. senator represent?
  17. 32Who elects U.S. senators?
  18. 33Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
  19. 34Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
  20. 35Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
  21. 36The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
  22. 37The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
  23. 38What is the name of the President of the United States now?
  24. 39What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
  25. 40If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
  26. 41Name one power of the president.
  27. 42Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
  28. 43Who signs bills to become laws?
  29. 44Who vetoes bills?
  30. 45Who appoints federal judges?
  31. 46The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
  32. 47What does the President's Cabinet do?
  33. 48What are two Cabinet-level positions?
  34. 49Why is the Electoral College important?
  35. 50What is one part of the judicial branch?
  36. 51What does the judicial branch do?
  37. 52What is the highest court in the United States?
  38. 53How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
  39. 54How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
  40. 55How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
  41. 56Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
  42. 57Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
  43. 58Name one power that is only for the federal government.
  44. 59Name one power that is only for the states.
  45. 60What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
  46. 61Who is the governor of your state now?
  47. 62What is the capital of your state?

Rights and Responsibilities

  1. 63There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
  2. 64Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
  3. 65What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
  4. 66What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
  5. 67Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
  6. 68How can people become United States citizens?
  7. 69What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
  8. 70What is one way Americans can serve their country?
  9. 71Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
  10. 72It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.

American History

Colonial Period and Independence

  1. 73The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
  2. 74Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
  3. 75What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
  4. 76What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
  5. 77Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
  6. 78Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
  7. 79When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
  8. 80The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
  9. 81There were 13 original states. Name five.
  10. 82What founding document was written in 1787?
  11. 83The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
  12. 84Why were the Federalist Papers important?
  13. 85Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
  14. 86George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
  15. 87Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
  16. 88James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
  17. 89Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

1800s

  1. 90What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
  2. 91Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
  3. 92Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
  4. 93The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
  5. 94Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
  6. 95What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
  7. 96What U.S. war ended slavery?
  8. 97What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
  9. 98When did all men get the right to vote?
  10. 99Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.

Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

  1. 100Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
  2. 101Why did the United States enter World War I?
  3. 102When did all women get the right to vote?
  4. 103What was the Great Depression?
  5. 104When did the Great Depression start?
  6. 105Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
  7. 106Why did the United States enter World War II?
  8. 107Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
  9. 108Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
  10. 109During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
  11. 110Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
  12. 111Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
  13. 112What did the civil rights movement do?
  14. 113Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
  15. 114Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
  16. 115What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
  17. 116Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
  18. 117Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
  19. 118Name one example of an American innovation.

Symbols and Holidays

Symbols

  1. 119What is the capital of the United States?
  2. 120Where is the Statue of Liberty?
  3. 121Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
  4. 122Why does the flag have 50 stars?
  5. 123What is the name of the national anthem?
  6. 124The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?

Holidays

  1. 125What is Independence Day?
  2. 126Name three national U.S. holidays.
  3. 127What is Memorial Day?
  4. 128What is Veterans Day?