American Government — 2008 Civics Questions

Not affiliated with or endorsed by USCIS or the U.S. government. Practice questions are for study only.

1. Question 1

   What is the supreme law of the land?

   • • the Constitution

2. Question 2

   What does the Constitution do?

   • • sets up the government
   • • defines the government
   • • protects basic rights of Americans

3. Question 3

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

   • • We the People

4. Question 4

   What is an amendment?

   • • a change (to the Constitution)
   • • an addition (to the Constitution)

5. Question 5

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

   • • the Bill of Rights

6. Question 6★ 65/20

   What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

   • • speech
   • • religion
   • • assembly
   • • press
   • • petition the government

7. Question 7

   How many amendments does the Constitution have?

   • • twenty-seven (27)

8. Question 8

   What did the Declaration of Independence do?

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

9. Question 9

   What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

   • • life
   • • liberty
   • • pursuit of happiness

10. Question 10

    What is freedom of religion?

    • • You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

11. Question 11★ 65/20

    What is the economic system in the United States?

    • • capitalist economy
    • • market economy

12. Question 12

    What is the “rule of law”?

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

13. Question 13★ 65/20

    Name one branch or part of the government.

    • • Congress
    • • legislative
    • • President
    • • executive
    • • the courts
    • • judicial

14. Question 14

    What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

    • • checks and balances
    • • separation of powers

15. Question 15

    Who is in charge of the executive branch?

    • • the President

16. Question 16

    Who makes federal laws?

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

17. Question 17★ 65/20

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

    • • the Senate and House (of Representatives)

18. Question 18

    How many U.S. Senators are there?

    • • one hundred (100)

19. Question 19

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

    • • six (6)

20. Question 20★ 65/20

    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.]

21. Question 21

    The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

    • • four hundred thirty-five (435)

22. Question 22

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

    • • two (2)

23. Question 23

    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.]

24. Question 24

    Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

    • • all people of the state

25. Question 25

    Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

    • • (because of) the state’s population
    • • (because) they have more people
    • • (because) some states have more people

26. Question 26

    We elect a President for how many years?

    • • four (4)

27. Question 27★ 65/20

    In what month do we vote for President?

    • • November

28. Question 28★ 65/20

    What is the name of the President of the United States now?

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

29. Question 29

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

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.

30. Question 30

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

    • • the Vice President

31. Question 31

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

    • • the Speaker of the House

32. Question 32

    Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

    • • the President

33. Question 33

    Who signs bills to become laws?

    • • the President

34. Question 34

    Who vetoes bills?

    • • the President

35. Question 35

    What does the President’s Cabinet do?

    • • advises the President

36. Question 36

    What are two Cabinet-level positions?

    • • Secretary of Agriculture
    • • Secretary of Commerce
    • • Secretary of Defense
    • • Secretary of Education
    • • Secretary of Energy
    • • Secretary of Health and Human Services
    • • Secretary of Homeland Security
    • • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
    • • Secretary of the Interior
    • • Secretary of Labor
    • • Secretary of State
    • • Secretary of Transportation
    • • Secretary of the Treasury
    • • Secretary of Veterans Affairs
    • • Attorney General
    • • Vice President

37. Question 37

    What does the judicial branch do?

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

38. Question 38

    What is the highest court in the United States?

    • • the Supreme Court

39. Question 39

    How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

40. Question 40

    Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.

41. Question 41

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

    • • to print money
    • • to declare war
    • • to create an army
    • • to make treaties

42. Question 42

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

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

43. Question 43

    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.]

44. Question 44★ 65/20

    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.]

45. Question 45★ 65/20

    What are the two major political parties in the United States?

    • • Democratic and Republican

46. Question 46

    What is the political party of the President now?

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the political party of the President.

47. Question 47

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

    • • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

48. Question 48

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

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

49. Question 49★ 65/20

    What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

    • • serve on a jury
    • • vote in a federal election

50. Question 50

    Name one right only for United States citizens.

    • • vote in a federal election
    • • run for federal office

51. Question 51

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

    • • freedom of expression
    • • freedom of speech
    • • freedom of assembly
    • • freedom to petition the government
    • • freedom of religion
    • • the right to bear arms

52. Question 52

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

    • • the United States
    • • the flag

53. Question 53

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

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

54. Question 54★ 65/20

    How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

    • • eighteen (18) and older

55. Question 55

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

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

56. Question 56★ 65/20

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

    • • April 15

57. Question 57

    When must all men register for the Selective Service?

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