The 128 civics questions are the question bank for the 2025 version of the naturalization
test. You take this version if you filed Form N-400 on or after 20 October 2025. At the
interview a USCIS officer asks up to 20 of the 128 out loud, and you need 12 correct
to pass.
USCIS publishes the list as document M-1778. It replaced the 100-question 2008 list for new filers,
keeping much of the old material, rewording a lot of it, adding new questions, and dropping the
Geography section entirely.
System of Government alone is 47 questions — over a third of the whole test. It covers Congress, the
presidency, the courts, and the split of power between federal and state government. If you only have
time to master one sub-section, master that one.
What is new compared with the 100
Roughly a quarter of the 2025 bank is new material or a substantially reworded version of an old
question. The genuinely new themes are:
The Federalist Papers — who wrote them and why they mattered (questions 83 and 84).
The Electoral College — why it is important (question 49).
The rule of law and the form of government — asked directly (questions 1 and 13).
Reasoning questions. Why there are three branches, why each state has two senators,
why representatives serve shorter terms, why justices serve for life.
American innovation — name one example (question 118).
More detail on the wars — separate questions on why the US entered World War I,
World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War.
And the notable removal: the old Geography questions about the longest rivers, the oceans on each
coast, states bordering Canada and Mexico, and naming a US territory are not in the 128.
How the 20-question interview is scored
The officer asks questions one at a time, out loud, and stops as soon as the outcome is decided. Get
your first 12 right and the civics test ends at question 12. Get 9 wrong and it ends early the other way,
because 12 correct is then impossible.
There is no partial credit and no multiple choice. There is also no penalty for taking a moment to
think, and you may ask the officer to repeat a question.
The 20 starred questions
Twenty of the 128 are marked with an asterisk in the official document. These are the questions used
for the 65/20 special consideration: if you are 65 or older and have been a lawful
permanent resident for 20 years or more, you study only those 20, the officer asks 10 of them, and you
need 6 correct. You may also take the test in the language of your choice.
If you do not qualify for 65/20, the asterisks are still useful — they mark the questions USCIS
considers most fundamental, which makes them a sensible place to start. Read the full rules in our
65/20 test guide.
Study the whole bank on your phone
All 128 questions of the 2025 version and all 100 of the 2008 version, offline, with mastery
tracking per category and study in your own language. Free on iPhone and Android.
How to get through 128 questions
128 is a lot, but the bank is far more repetitive than it looks. Learn these anchors and a surprising
number of questions answer themselves:
The President is the answer to who signs bills, who vetoes bills, who is Commander
in Chief, who appoints federal judges, and who becomes president is the Vice President.
Congress writes laws, declares war and makes the federal budget. The Senate has 100
members on 6-year terms; the House has 435 voting members on 2-year terms.
The Civil War is the answer to the war between North and South and the war that
ended slavery.
"To stop the spread of communism" answers both the Korea and Vietnam questions.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence; James Madison
is the Father of the Constitution; George Washington is the Father of Our Country.
Work through the whole bank in the free practice test above, then use the app's category quizzes to
attack whichever section your mastery score says is weakest. The app carries all 128 offline and tracks
each question separately, so the ones you keep missing keep coming back until they stop being a problem.
All 128 civics questions and answers
The complete 2025 list, copied from the official
USCIS M-1778 (09/25). Starred questions are the 65/20
questions. Questions about current officials show the names USCIS lists, with the date we checked them;
questions about where you live point to your state page. Practise them by section
on the topic pages, or print them as flashcards.
Lista en español →
American Government: 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? 65/20
(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? 65/20
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? 65/20
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
American Government: 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. 65/20
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.]
See your two U.S. senators on our state-by-state answers — every name there is dated and sourced.
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.]
See how to find your representative on our state-by-state answers — every name there is dated and sourced.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? 65/20
As listed by USCIS (checked October 20, 2026):
Mike Johnson
Johnson
James Michael Johnson (birth name)
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
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? 65/20
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? 65/20
As listed by USCIS (checked October 20, 2026):
Donald J. Trump
Donald Trump
Trump
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? 65/20
As listed by USCIS (checked October 20, 2026):
JD Vance
Vance
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
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? 65/20
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? 65/20
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?
As listed by USCIS (checked October 20, 2026):
John Roberts
John G. Roberts, Jr.
Roberts
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
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? 65/20
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]
See your governor on our state-by-state answers — every name there is dated and sourced.
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.]
See your state capital on our state-by-state answers — every name there is dated and sourced.
American Government: 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? 65/20
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
American History: 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? 65/20
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? 65/20
(Thomas) Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
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. 65/20
"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
American History: 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. 65/20
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
American History: 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) 19 th 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
34 th 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. 65/20
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? 65/20
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: 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? 65/20
(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
Symbols And Holidays: Holidays
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
The country's birthday
Name three national U.S. holidays. 65/20
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)
Practise the real questions free
The free citizenship practice test has every official question of both
versions, a 20-question mock interview and flashcards. Study by topic, check the
answers for your state, or print the
2025 / 2008 flashcards.
Frequently asked
How many of the 128 civics questions are asked at the interview?
Up to 20. You must answer 12 of them correctly to pass. The officer stops asking as soon as you have either reached 12 correct or can no longer reach it.
Who has to take the 128-question civics test?
Anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after 20 October 2025. Applicants who filed before that date take the older 100-question 2008 version instead.
Are the 128 questions harder than the 100?
Yes. There are 28 more of them, twice as many are asked, and several require you to explain why something is the case rather than recall a single fact. The pass mark is still 60%, but you need 12 correct answers instead of 6.
Is there an official 128 civics questions PDF?
Yes. USCIS publishes the complete list with accepted answers as document M-1778, free to download from uscis.gov. Every question and answer used on this site comes from that document.
