Civics question 1 of 128

What is the form of government of the United States?

Source: official USCIS question list for the 2025 version of the civics test. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.

Background

The United States is a constitution-based federal republic, and the test also accepts republic or representative democracy. Each phrase describes a different piece of the same system. Republic means power rests with the people and is exercised through elected officials rather than a monarch. Federal means power is divided between the national government and the states, so both levels govern the same citizens in different areas. Constitution-based means that written document, not a ruler or a temporary majority, sets the limits everyone must respect. Representative democracy points at the mechanism: voters choose people to make decisions for them rather than voting on each law themselves. Any one of these answers is enough at the interview, so learn whichever phrasing you can say most comfortably and stick to it.

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 Principles of American Government, inside the American Government section of the test.

Related questions

• 3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
• 4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
• 5. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
• 6. What does the Bill of Rights protect?
• 7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
• 8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?