1. What are the colors of our flag? Red, White, and Blue. 2. How many stars are there in our flag? 50 3. What color are the stars on our flag? White. 4. What do the stars on the flag mean? One for each state in the Union. 5. How many stripes are there in the flag? 13 6. What color are the stripes? Red and White. 7. What do the stripes on the flag mean? They represent the original 13 states. 8. How many states are there in the Union? 50 9. What is the 4th of July? Independence Day. 10. What is the date of Independence Day? July 4th 11. Independence from whom? England 12. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War? England 13. Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington 14. Who is the President of the United States today? Currently George W. Bush 15. Who is the vice-president of the United States today? Currently Richard B. ("Dick") Cheney 16. Who elects the President of the United States? The electoral college 17. Who becomes President of the United States if the President should die? Vice - President 18. For how long do we elect the President? Four years 19. What is the Constitution? The supreme law of the land 20. Can the Constitution be changed? Yes 21. What do we call a change to the Constitution? An Amendment 22. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution? 27 23. How many branches are there in our government? 3 24. What are the three branches of our government? Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary 25. What is the legislative branch of our government? Congress 26. Who makes the laws in the United States? Congress 27. What is the Congress? The Senate and the House of Representatives 28. What are the duties of Congress? To make laws 29. Who elects the Congress? The people 30. How many senators are there in Congress? 100 31. Can you name the two senators from your state? (insert local information) 32. For how long do we elect each senator? 6 years 33. How many representatives are there in Congress? 435 34. For how long do we elect the representatives? 2 years 35. What is the executive branch of our government? The President, vice president, cabinet, and departments under the cabinet members 36. What is the judiciary branch of our government? The Supreme Court 37. What are the duties of the Supreme Court? To interpret laws 38. What is the supreme court law of the United States? The Constitution 39. What is the Bill of Rights? The first 10 amendments of the Constitution 40. What is the capital of your state? (insert local information) 41. Who is the current governor of your state? (insert local information) 42. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die? Speaker of the House of Representative 43. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? William Rehnquist (or whoever is next) 44. Can you name thirteen original states? Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Maryland. 45. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death."? Patrick Henry 46. Which countries were our enemies during World War II? Germany, Italy, and Japan 47. What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union? Hawaii and Alaska 48. How many terms can the President serve? 2 49. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.? A civil rights leader 50. Who is the head of your local government? (insert local information) 51. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of these requirements. Must be a natural born citizen of the United States; must be at least 35 years old by the time he/she will serve; must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. 52. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate? Two (2) from each state 53. Who selects the Supreme Court justice? Appointed by the President 54. How many Supreme Court justice are there? Nine (9) 55. Why did the Pilgrims come to America? For religious freedom 56. What is the head executive of a state government called? Governor 57. What is the head executive of a city government called? Mayor 58. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the Americans colonists? Thanksgiving 59. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson 60. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776 61. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence? That all men are created equal 62. What is the national anthem of the United States? The Star-Spangled Banner 63. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner? Francis Scott Key 64. Where does freedom of speech come from? The Bill of Rights 65. What is a minimum voting age in the United States? Eighteen (18) 66. Who signs bills into law? The President 67. What is the highest court in the United States? The Supreme Court 68. Who was the President during the Civil War? Abraham Lincoln 69. What did the Emancipation Declaration do? Freed many slaves 70. What special group advises the President? The Cabinet 71. Which President is called the "Father of our country"? George Washington 72. What Immigration and Naturalization Service form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen? Form N-400, Application to File Petition for Naturalization 73. Who helped the Pilgrims in America? The American-Indians (Native Americans) 74. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America? The Mayflower 75. What are the 13 original states of the U.S. called? Colonies 76. Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The right of freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and requesting change of government. The right to bear arms (the right to have weapons or own a gun, though subject to certain regulations). The government may not quarter, or house, soldiers in the people's homes during peacetime without the people's consent. The government may not search or take a person's property without a warrant. A person may not be tried twice for the same crime and does not have to testify against him/herself. A person charged with a crime still has some rights, such as the right to a trial and to have a lawyer. The right to trial by jury in most cases. Protects people against excessive or unreasonable fines or cruel and unusual punishment. The people have rights other than those mentioned in the Constitution. Any power not given to the federal government by the Constitution is a power of either the state or the people. 77. Who has the power to declare the war? The Congress 78. What kind of government does the United States have? Democracy 79. Which President freed the slaves? Abraham Lincoln 80. In what year was the Constitution written? 1787 81. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? The Bill of Rights 82. Name one purpose of the United Nations? For countries to discuss and try to resolve world problems, to provide economic aid to many countries. 83. Where does Congress meet? In the Capitol in Washington, D.C. 84. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Everyone (citizens and non-citizens) living in U.S. 85. What is the introduction to the Constitution called? The Preamble 86. Name one benefit of being citizen of the United States. Obtain federal government jobs, travel with U.S. passport, petition for close relatives to come to the U.S. to live. 87. What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens? The right to vote 88. What is the United States Capitol? The place where Congress meets 89. What is the White House? The President's official home 90. Where is the White House located? Washington, D.C. (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.) 91. What is the name of the President's official home? The White House 92. Name the right guaranteed by the first amendment. Freedom of: speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and requesting change of the government. 93. Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? The President 94. Which President was the first Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? George Washington 95. In what month do we vote for the President? November 96. In what month is the new President inaugurated? January 97. How many times may a Senator be re-elected? There is no limit 98. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected? There is no limit 99. What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S. today? Democratic and Republican 100. How many states are there in the United States today? Fifty (50)

New Question starting October 1st 2008

New Test Questions and Answers

Some questions have more than one correct answer. In those cases, all acceptable answers are shown. All answers are shown exactly as worded by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

A. Principles of American Democracy

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

A: The Constitution

2. What does the Constitution do?

A: sets up the government
A: defines the government
A: protects basic rights of Americans

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

A: We the People

4. What is an amendment?

A: a change (to the Constitution)
A: an addition (to the Constitution)

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

A: The Bill of Rights

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

A: speech
A: religion
A: assembly
A: press
A: petition the government

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

A: twenty-seven (27)

8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?

A: announced our independence (from Great Britain)
A: declared our independence (from Great Britain)
A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

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

A: life
A: liberty
A: pursuit of happiness

10. What is freedom of religion?

A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

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

A: capitalist economy
A: market economy

12. What is the "rule of law"?

A: Everyone must follow the law.
A: Leaders must obey the law.
A: Government must obey the law.
A: No one is above the law.

B. System of Government

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

A: Congress
A: legislative
A: President
A: executive
A: the courts
A: judicial

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

A: checks and balances
A: separation of powers

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

A: the President

16. Who makes federal laws?

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

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

A: the Senate and House (of Representatives)

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

A: one hundred (100)

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

A: six (6)

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

A: Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

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

A: four hundred thirty-five (435)

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

A: two (2)

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

A: 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.]

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

A: all people of the state

25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

A: (because of) the state's population
A: (because) they have more people
A: (because) some states have more people

26. We elect a President for how many years?

A: four (4)

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

A: November

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

A: George W. Bush
A: George Bush
A: Bush

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

A: Richard Cheney
A: Dick Cheney
A: Cheney

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

A: the Vice President

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

A: the Speaker of the House

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

A: the President

33. Who signs bills to become laws?

A: the President

34. Who vetoes bills?

A: the President

35. What does the President's Cabinet do?

A: advises the President

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

A: Secretary of Agriculture
A: Secretary of Commerce
A: Secretary of Defense
A: Secretary of Education
A: Secretary of Energy
A: Secretary of Health and Human Services
A: Secretary of Homeland Security
A: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
A: Secretary of Interior
A: Secretary of State
A: Secretary of Transportation
A: Secretary of Treasury
A: Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
A: Secretary of Labor
A: Attorney General

37. does the judicial branch do?

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

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

A: the Supreme Court

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

A: nine (9)

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

A: John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

A: to print money
A: to declare war
A: to create an army
A: to make treaties

42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

A: provide schooling and education
A: provide protection (police)
A: provide safety (fire departments)
A: give a driver's license
A: approve zoning and land use

43. Who is the Governor of your state?

A: Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor."]

44. What is the capital of your state?*

A: 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.]

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

A: Democratic and Republican

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

A: Republican (Party)

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

A: (Nancy) Pelosi

C: Rights and Responsibilities

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
A: You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
A: Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A: A male citizen of any race (can vote).

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

A: serve on a jury
A: vote

50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?

A: apply for a federal job
A: vote
A: run for office
A: carry a U.S. passport

51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

A: freedom of expression
A: freedom of speech
A: freedom of assembly
A: freedom to petition the government
A: freedom of worship
A: the right to bear arms

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

A: the United States
A: the flag

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

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

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

A: eighteen (18) and older

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

A: vote
A: join a political party
A: help with a campaign
A: join a civic group
A: join a community group
A: give an elected official your opinion on an issue
A: call Senators and Representatives
A: publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
A: run for office
A: write to a newspaper

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

A: April 15

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

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

AMERICAN HISTORY

A: Colonial Period and Independence

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

A: freedom
A: political liberty
A: religious freedom
A: economic opportunity
A: practice their religion
A: escape persecution

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

A: Native Americans
A: American Indians

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

A: Africans
A: people from Africa

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

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

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A: (Thomas) Jefferson

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

A: July 4, 1776

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

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

65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

A: The Constitution was written.
A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

66. When was the Constitution written?

A: 1787

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

A: (James) Madison
A: (Alexander) Hamilton
A: (John) Jay
A: Publius

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

A: U.S. diplomat
A: oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
A: first Postmaster General of the United States
A: writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
A: started the first free libraries

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

A: (George) Washington

70. Who was the first President?*

A: (George) Washington

B: 1800s

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

A: the Louisiana Territory
A: Louisiana

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

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

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

A: the Civil War
A: the War between the States

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

A: slavery
A: economic reasons
A: states' rights

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

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

76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

A: freed the slaves
A: freed slaves in the Confederacy
A: freed slaves in the Confederate states
A: freed slaves in most Southern states

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

A: fought for women's rights
A: fought for civil rights

C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

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

A: World War I
A: World War II
A: Korean War
A: Vietnam War
A: (Persian) Gulf War

79. Who was President during World War I?

A: (Woodrow) Wilson

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

A: (Franklin) Roosevelt

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

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

A: Japan, Germany and Italy

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

A: World War II

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

A: Communism

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

A: civil rights (movement)

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

A: fought for civil rights
A: worked for equality for all Americans

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

A: Terrorists attacked the United States.

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

[Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list.]

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

INTEGRATED CIVICS

A: Geography

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

A: Missouri (River)
A: Mississippi (River)

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

A: Pacific (Ocean)

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

A: Atlantic (Ocean)

91. Name one U.S. territory.

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

92. Name one state that borders Canada.

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

93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

A: California
A: Arizona
A: New Mexico
A: Texas

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

A: Washington, D.C.

95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*

A: New York (Harbor)
A: Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

B. Symbols

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

A: because there were 13 original colonies
A: because the stripes represent the original colonies

97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*

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

98. What is the name of the national anthem?

A: The Star-Spangled Banner

C: Holidays

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*

A: July 4

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

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

NOTE: The questions above will be asked of applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008. Until then, the Current Set of Citizenship Questions and Answers remains in effect. For those applicants who file prior to October 1, 2008 but are not interviewed until after October , 2008 (but before October 1, 2009), there will be an option of taking the new test or the current one.