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Civics topic

Symbols

Updated · Questions and answers from the official USCIS lists

The flag, the Statue of Liberty, the national anthem and the national motto.

The 2025 version has 6 questions in this section; the 2008 version has 3. Each question below shows the official accepted answers and, where USCIS explains it, a short excerpt from a USCIS study guide. Practise just this topic with the quiz.

Questions about current officials and your own state are not in the quiz — those answers change. Check them on your state page and on uscis.gov. Full test: free practice test.

Symbols: the 6 questions on the 2025 test

For applicants who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. Answers are copied from the official USCIS list (M-1778); any one accepted answer is enough.

  1. What is the capital of the United States?

    • Washington, D.C.

    The capital of the United States is called Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., is not part of a state.

  2. 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).]

    The Statue of Liberty is in New York Harbor on Liberty Island. In 1886, France gave the statue to the United States as a symbol of friendship.

  3. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? 65/20

    • (Because there were) 13 original colonies
    • (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies

    The flag has 13 red and white stripes. The stripes represent the 13 original colonies.

  4. 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

    There are 50 stars on the flag. Each star represents a state.

  5. What is the name of the national anthem?

    • The Star-Spangled Banner

    The name of the national anthem is “The Star-Spangled Banner”. The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key.

  6. The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?

    • Out of many, one
    • We all become one

Symbols: the 3 questions on the 2008 test

For applicants who filed Form N-400 before October 20, 2025. Answers are from the official USCIS list (rev. 08/21).

  1. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

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

    There are 13 stripes on the flag because there were 13 original colonies. We call the American flag “the Stars and Stripes.” For 18 years after the United States became an independent country, the flag had only 13 stripes.

  2. Why does the flag have 50 stars? 65/20

    • because there is one star for each state
    • because each star represents a state
    • because there are 50 states

    Each star on the flag represents a state. This is why the number of stars has changed over the years from 13 to 50. The number of stars reached 50 in 1959, when Hawaii joined the United States as the 50th state.

  3. What is the name of the national anthem?

    • The Star-Spangled Banner

    During the War of 1812, British soldiers invaded the United States. On the night of September 13, 1814, British warships bombed Fort McHenry. This fort protected the city of Baltimore, Maryland.

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