US Citizenship Practice Test
20 questions, the same number the officer asks at your interview. You need 12 correct to pass. The real test is spoken, so answer out loud before you reveal the official answer.
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Question 1
What is the form of government of the United States?
Official answers
- Republic
- Constitution-based federal republic
- Representative democracy
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 2 65/20
What is the supreme law of the land?
Official answer
- (U.S.) Constitution
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Question 3
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Official answers
- Forms the government
- Defines powers of government
- Defines the parts of government
- Protects the rights of the people
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 4
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
Official answers
- Self-government
- Popular sovereignty
- Consent of the governed
- People should govern themselves
- (Example of) social contract
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 5
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Official answers
- Amendments
- The amendment process
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 6
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
Official answers
- (The basic) rights of Americans
- (The basic) rights of people living in the United States
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 7 65/20
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Official answer
- Twenty-seven (27)
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Question 8
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
Official answers
- It says America is free from British control.
- It says all people are created equal.
- It identifies inherent rights.
- It identifies individual freedoms.
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 9
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Official answer
- Declaration of Independence
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Question 10
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Official answers
- Equality
- Liberty
- Social contract
- Natural rights
- Limited government
- Self-government
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 11
The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
Official answer
- Declaration of Independence
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Question 12 65/20
What is the economic system of the United States?
Official answers
- Capitalism
- Free market economy
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 13
What is the rule of law?
Official answers
- Everyone must follow the law.
- Leaders must obey the law.
- Government must obey the law.
- No one is above the law.
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 14
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Official answers
- 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
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 15
There are three branches of government. Why?
Official answers
- So one part does not become too powerful
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 16
Name the three branches of government.
Official answers
- Legislative, executive, and judicial
- Congress, president, and the courts
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 17
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Official answer
- Executive branch
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Question 18
What part of the federal government writes laws?
Official answers
- (U.S.) Congress
- (U.S. or national) legislature
- Legislative branch
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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Question 19
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Official answer
- Senate and House (of Representatives)
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Question 20 65/20
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Official answers
- Writes laws
- Declares war
- Makes the federal budget
Any one of these is accepted. You do not have to give all of them.
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On the real test you are asked 20 of the 128 questions and need 12 correct.
More practice tests
7 tests of 20 questions each. Every one of the 128 questions appears once before any of them comes back.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the practice test?
Twenty, the same number a USCIS officer asks at the naturalization interview. You need 12 correct to pass.
Why do I have to grade myself?
Because the real test is oral and open-ended. The officer asks the question and listens to your answer; there are no options to pick from. Grading yourself is the closest honest simulation, and it stops you from recognising an answer you could not actually produce.
Are the practice questions the same as the real ones?
Yes. They are drawn from the official pool of 128 USCIS civics questions for the 2025 version of the test. The officer will ask you 20 of those same questions.