Civics question 72 of 128
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
3 accepted answers
- Required by law
- Civic duty
- Makes the draft fair, if needed
You only need to give one of these. The officer accepts any of them.
Source: official USCIS question list for the 2025 version of the civics test. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.
Background
Required by law, a civic duty, and keeping a draft fair are the three accepted answers. Registration with the Selective Service System is a legal requirement for men aged eighteen through twenty-five living in the United States, and registration is all it is: no one has been drafted since 1973, when the military became all-volunteer. The system exists so that a list is ready should Congress ever authorize conscription again. Fairness is the history behind the third answer. During the Civil War a man could avoid service by paying a commutation fee or hiring a substitute, and the resentment that caused shaped later thinking about who bears the burden. Registration itself is free and takes minutes, and failing to register can affect federal student aid and federal jobs.
This background section is written by US Citizenship Test Practice to explain the civics fact. It is not part of the USCIS question list, and the official answer above is the one to give at the interview.
Where this question sits
It is part of Rights and Responsibilities, inside the American Government section of the test.
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