USCIS CIVICS QUESTIONS FOR NATURALIZATION TEST

80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

▪ (Franklin) Roosevelt

69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

▪ (George) Washington

70. Who was the first President?*

▪ (George) Washington

67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

▪ (James) Madison ▪ (Alexander) Hamilton ▪ (John) Jay ▪ Publius

46. What is the political party of the President now?

▪ Democratic (Party)

45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

▪ Democratic and Republican

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

▪ Denny Heck

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.

81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?

▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

▪ Jay Inslee

40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

▪ John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? a

▪ Joseph R. Biden, Jr. ▪ Joe Biden ▪ Biden

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*

▪ July 4

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

▪ July 4, 1776

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

▪ because there were 13 original colonies ▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies

11. What is the economic system in the United States?*

▪ capitalist economy ▪ market economy

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ freedom ▪ political liberty ▪ religious freedom ▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution

37. What does the judicial branch do?

▪ reviews laws ▪ explains laws ▪ resolves disputes (disagreements) ▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution

49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

▪ serve on a jury ▪ vote in a federal election

2. What does the Constitution do?

▪ sets up the government ▪ defines the government ▪ protects basic rights of Americans

19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

▪ six (6)

50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

▪ vote in a federal election ▪ run for federal office

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation) ▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) ▪ because they didn't have self-government

97. 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

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

▪ checks and balances ▪ separation of powers

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

▪ civil rights (movement)

54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

▪ eighteen (18) and older

85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

▪ fought for civil rights ▪ worked for equality for all Americans

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

▪ fought for women's rights ▪ fought for civil rights

26. We elect a President for how many years?

▪ four (4)

21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

76. 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

75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

▪ freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) ▪ saved (or preserved) the Union ▪ led the United States during the Civil War

51. What are two 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

53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

▪ give up loyalty to other countries ▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States ▪ obey the laws of the United States ▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed) ▪ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)

9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

▪ life ▪ liberty ▪ pursuit of happiness

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

▪ nine (9)

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

▪ one hundred (100)

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

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery ▪ economic reasons ▪ states' rights

6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

▪ speech ▪ religion ▪ assembly ▪ press

5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

▪ the Bill of Rights

73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

▪ the Civil War ▪ the War between the States

71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

▪ the Louisiana Territory ▪ Louisiana

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

▪ the President

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

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

▪ the Speaker of the House

38. What is the highest court in the United States?

▪ the Supreme Court

52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

▪ the United States ▪ the flag

30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

▪ the Vice President

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

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

▪ twenty-seven (27)

22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

▪ two (2)

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪ vote ▪ 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 ▪ call Senators and Representatives ▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy ▪ run for office

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

▪ American Indians ▪ Native Americans

56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*

▪ April 15

90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

▪ Atlantic (Ocean)

28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

▪ Barack Obama ▪ Obama

93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

▪ California ▪ Arizona ▪ New Mexico ▪ Texas

20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?*

▪ Cantwell

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

▪ Cherokee ▪ Navajo ▪ Sioux ▪ Chippewa ▪ Choctaw ▪ Pueblo ▪ Apache ▪ Iroquois ▪ Creek ▪ Blackfeet ▪ Seminole ▪ Cheyenne ▪ Arawak ▪ Shawnee ▪ Mohegan ▪ Huron ▪ Oneida ▪ Lakota ▪ Crow ▪ Teton ▪ Hopi ▪ Inuit

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).

83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

▪ Communism

16. Who makes federal laws?

▪ Congress ▪ Senate and House (of Representatives) ▪ (U.S. or national) legislature

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*

▪ Congress ▪ legislative ▪ President ▪ executive ▪ the courts ▪ judicial

92. Name one state that borders Canada.

▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

▪ Missouri (River) ▪ Mississippi (River)

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

▪ New Hampshire ▪ Massachusetts ▪ Rhode Island ▪ Connecticut ▪ New York ▪ New Jersey ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Delaware ▪ Maryland ▪ Virginia ▪ North Carolina ▪ South Carolina ▪ Georgia

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

▪ New Year's Day ▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ▪ Presidents' Day ▪ Memorial Day ▪ Independence Day ▪ Labor Day ▪ Columbus Day ▪ Veterans Day ▪ Thanksgiving ▪ Christmas

95. 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).]

27. In what month do we vote for President?*

▪ November

44. What is the capital of your state?*

▪ Olympia

89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

▪ Pacific (Ocean)

47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

▪ Paul D. Ryan ▪ (Paul) Ryan

91. Name one U.S. territory.

▪ Puerto Rico ▪ U.S. Virgin Islands ▪ American Samoa ▪ Northern Mariana Islands ▪ Guam

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

86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

▪ Terrorists attacked the United States.

65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

▪ The Constitution was written. ▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

98. What is the name of the national anthem?

▪ The Star-Spangled Banner

68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

▪ U.S. diplomat ▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention ▪ first Postmaster General of the United States ▪ writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"

72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

▪ War of 1812 A ▪ Mexican-American War ▪ Civil War ▪ Spanish-American War

94. What is the capital of the United States?*

▪ Washington, D.C.

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

▪ We the People

78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

▪ World War I ▪ World War II ▪ Korean War ▪ Vietnam War ▪ (Persian) Gulf War

82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

▪ World War II

10. What is freedom of religion?

▪ You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

4. What is an amendment?

▪ a change (to the Constitution) ▪ an addition (to the Constitution)

35. What does the President's Cabinet do?

▪ advises the President

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

▪ all people of the state

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)

57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?

▪ at age eighteen (18) ▪ between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

▪ (Thomas) Jefferson

79. Who was President during World War I?

▪ (Woodrow) Wilson

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

66. When was the Constitution written?

▪ 1787

60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

▪ Africans ▪ people from Africa