How the federal government works: the three branches, Congress, the President, the courts, and the split of power between the federal government and the states. The largest section of both tests.
The 2025 version has 47 questions in this section; the 2008 version has 35. 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.
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.
Name the three branches of government.
The three branches of government are called the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch.
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
The President of the United States is in charge of the Executive Branch. The other parts of the Executive Branch are the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President of the United States, and the Executive Departments and agencies in the federal government.
What part of the federal government writes laws?
The Constitution says that Congress makes federal laws. When the Founders were writing the Constitution, they believed that the power to make laws is the most important power in government.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
They came to an agreement to have two parts to the U.S. Congress. The two parts to the U.S. Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Name one power of the U.S. Congress. 65/20
When members of Congress want to make a new law, they write a “bill.” A bill is a proposal for a new law. The power to declare war is one power that belongs to the federal government under the Constitution.
How many U.S. senators are there?
There are 100 U.S. Senators in the Senate. Senators represent all the people of a state.
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
U.S. Senators are elected for six years. To get elected to the Senate, a person must be at least 30 years of age and they must live in the state that they represent.
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.
To find the name of your U.S. Senators, please visit: senate.gov. Washington, D.C., does not have any senators because it is not a U.S. state.
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
There are 435 voting members in the House of Representatives. Each congressional district elects a person to serve as a representative in the House of Representatives.
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. To get elected to the House of Representatives, a person must be at least 25 years of age and live in the state where the congressional district is located.
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
People who live in a representative’s district are called “constituents.” Representatives tend to reflect the views of their constituents. If representatives do not do this, they may be voted out of office.
How many senators does each state have?
Each state has two U.S. Senators. The states of California and Wyoming both have two U.S. Senators.
Why does each state have two senators?
Some people thought that the number of representatives from each state should be based on the number of people living in the state. Others thought that each state should have the same number of representatives, no matter how many people lived in the state. They came to an agreement to have two parts to the U.S. Congress.
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.
To find the name of your Representative for your congressional district please visit: house.gov.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? 65/20
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
The leader of the House of Representatives is called the Speaker of the House.
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Senators represent all the people of a state.
Who elects U.S. senators?
Senators are elected to serve the people of their state for six years. Before the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1913, the state legislatures elected the U.S. senators to represent their state.
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
People who live in a representative’s district are called “constituents.”
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Each state is divided into congressional districts. Each congressional district elects a person to serve as a representative in the House of Representatives.
Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
Some states have more representatives in the House of Representatives than others. This is because states that have more people have more representatives in the House of Representatives.
The President of the United States is elected for how many years? 65/20
U.S. citizens vote for President in November, and the President is elected for four years.
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
In 1951, the 22nd amendment was added to the Constitution. The 22nd Amendment says a person can only be elected President two times.
What is the name of the President of the United States now? 65/20
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
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
The Vice President is the President of the Senate, an advisor to the President, and a member of the President’s Cabinet.
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Constitution says that if the President can no longer serve, then the Vice President becomes President. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives becomes President.
Name one power of the president.
If the President agrees with the bill, then the President signs the bill into law. If the President does not agree with the bill, then the President vetoes the bill.
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of the military. This means that the President is in charge of everyone serving in U.S. military.
Who signs bills to become laws?
If both parts of Congress pass the bill, then the bill is sent to the President of the United States. If the President agrees with the bill, then the President signs the bill into law.
Who vetoes bills? 65/20
If the President does not agree with the bill, then the President vetoes the bill. The word “veto” means that the President did not sign the bill.
Who appoints federal judges?
The President nominates someone to become a federal judge on the Supreme Court or on a lower federal court. That person must also be approved by the U.S. Senate to become a federal judge.
The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
The other parts of the Executive Branch are the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President of the United States, and the Executive Departments and agencies in the federal government.
What does the President's Cabinet do?
A “cabinet” is another word for a “group of advisors.” The President’s Cabinet advises the President.
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
The people who lead the Executive Departments are mostly called Secretaries. The leader of the Department of Justice is called the Attorney General.
Why is the Electoral College important?
The Electoral College is a process that was designed by the writers of the Constitution to select presidents. It came from a compromise between the president being elected directly by the people and the president being chosen by Congress.
What is one part of the judicial branch?
The parts of the Judicial Branch are the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The other federal courts are sometimes called lower federal courts.
What does the judicial branch do?
One of the important roles of the Judicial Branch is to review laws. This means that they can decide if a law follows the Constitution.
What is the highest court in the United States? 65/20
There are no other courts in the United States that can change the decision of the Supreme Court. This is one reason that the Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
There are nine justices on the Supreme Court. The word “justice” is another word for “judge.”
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
A majority means that more than half of the justices vote the same way on a case. For example: When 9 Supreme Court Justices hear a case, at least 5 justices must vote the same on the case in order to have a majority.
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
When the Founders wrote the Constitution, they did not want the judges who serve on the Supreme Court and on other federal courts to make decisions about the law based on politics or elections. This is why federal judges are not elected to office.
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
One justice on the Supreme Court is called the Chief Justice of the United States.
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
For example, under the Constitution, the federal government has the power to create an army to defend the nation, and to declare war if the U.S. has been attacked or is under threat. Only the U.S. government has the power to print the dollar bills and coins that people use for money in the United States.
Name one power that is only for the states.
For example, state governments have the power to provide the people of their state with protection and safety. State governments also have the power to provide the people of their state with schooling and education.
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
Under the Constitution, powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved for the states respectively, 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.
Each of the 50 states has a governor. Washington, D.C., does not have a governor because it is not a U.S. state.
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.
Each state in the United States also has a state capital.
For applicants who filed Form N-400 before October 20, 2025. Answers are from the official USCIS list (rev. 08/21).
Name one branch or part of the government. 65/20
The Constitution establishes three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch.
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
The Constitution separates the government’s power into three branches to prevent one person or group from having too much power. The separation of government into three branches creates a system of checks and balances.
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The job of the executive branch is to carry out, or execute, federal laws and enforce laws passed by Congress. The head of the executive branch is the president.
Who makes federal laws?
Congress makes federal laws. A federal law usually applies to all states and all people in the United States. Either side of Congress—the Senate or the House of Representatives—can propose a bill to address an issue.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? 65/20
Congress is divided into two parts—the Senate and the House of Representatives. Because it has two “chambers,” the U.S. Congress is known as a “bicameral” legislature.
How many U.S. Senators are there?
There are 100 senators in Congress, two from each state. All states have equal power in the Senate because each state has the same number of senators. States with a very small population have the same number of senators as states with very large populations.
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
The Framers of the Constitution wanted senators to be independent from public opinion. They thought a fairly long, six-year term would give them this protection.
Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now? 65/20
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.
For a complete list of U.S. senators and the states they represent, go to senate.gov.
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
The House of Representatives is the larger chamber of Congress. Since 1912, the House of Representatives has had 435 voting members. However, the distribution of members among the states has changed over the years.
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
People who live in a representative’s district are called “constituents.” Representatives tend to reflect the views of their constituents. If representatives do not do this, they may be voted out of office.
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.
For a complete list of U.S. representatives and the districts they represent, go to house.gov.
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Senators are elected to serve the people of their state for six years. Each of the two senators represents the entire state. Before the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1913, the state legislatures elected the U.S. senators to represent their state.
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
The Founding Fathers wanted people in all states to be represented fairly. In the House of Representatives, a state’s population determines the number of representatives it has.
We elect a President for how many years?
Early American leaders thought that the head of the British government, the king, had too much power. Because of this, they limited the powers of the head of the new U.S. government.
In what month do we vote for President? 65/20
The Constitution did not set a national election day. In the past, elections for federal office took place on different days in different states. In 1845, Congress passed legislation to designate a single day for all Americans to vote.
What is the name of the President of the United States now? 65/20
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?
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?
If the president dies, resigns, or cannot work while still in office, the vice president becomes president. For this reason, the qualifications for vice president and president are the same.
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
If both the president and vice president cannot serve, the next person in line is the speaker of the House of Representatives. This has not always been the procedure.
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
A republic is a government where a country’s political power comes from the citizens, not the rulers, and is put into use by representatives elected by the citizens. That is why they made the president the commander in chief.
Who signs bills to become laws?
Every law begins as a proposal made by a member of Congress, either a senator (member of the Senate) or representative (member of the House of Representatives).
Who vetoes bills?
The president has veto power. This means that the president can reject a bill passed by Congress. If the president vetoes a bill, he prevents it from becoming a law.
What does the President's Cabinet do?
The Constitution says that the leaders of the executive departments should advise the president. These department leaders, most of them called “secretaries,” make up the cabinet.
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
The people on the president’s cabinet are the vice president and the heads of the 15 executive departments. The president may appoint other government officials to the cabinet.
What does the judicial branch do?
The judicial branch is one of the three branches of government. The Constitution established the judicial branch of government with the creation of the Supreme Court.
What is the highest court in the United States?
The U.S. Supreme Court has complete authority over all federal courts. Its rulings have a significant effect.
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
The powers of government are divided between the federal government and the state governments. The federal government is known as a limited government.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
In the United States, the federal and state governments both hold power. Before the Constitution, the 13 colonies governed themselves individually much like state governments.
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.]
See your governor on our state-by-state answers — every name there is dated and sourced.
Similar to the federal government, most states have three branches of government.
What is the capital of your state? 65/20
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.
Each state or territory has its own capital. The state capital is where the state government conducts its business.
What are the two major political parties in the United States? 65/20
The Constitution did not establish political parties. President George Washington specifically warned against them. But early in U.S. history, two political groups developed.
What is the political party of the President now?
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 Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
This can change. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview — you must name whoever holds the office on that day.
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