U.S. Citizenship Test Questions and Answers
American Government
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Correct answer: The Constitution
Explanation: The Constitution is the highest law in the United States. It is the oldest written Constitution in the world.
2. What does the Constitution do?
Correct answers (choose one):
- sets up the government
- defines the government
- protects the basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
Correct answer: We the People
Explanation: The first three words encompass all American citizens. serve to emphasize that the U.S. government is ruled by the people.
4. What is an amendment?
Correct answers (choose one):
- a change (to the Constitution) or
- an addition (to the Constitution)
Explanation: The U.S. Constitution is a living document, meaning it can be added to or altered. The Constitution has been amended 27 times.
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Correct answer: The Bill of Rights
Explanation. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution were adopted on December 15, 1791. Known as the Bill of Rights, it details the rights of the people in relation to the U.S. government.
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
Correct answers (choose one):
- speech
- religion
- assembly
- press
- petition the government
Explanation: The First Amendment protects the right to freedom of expression. as well as the right to peaceful protest and to petition the government.
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Correct answer: 27
Explanation: Since 1789, there have been 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Correct answers (choose one):
- announced our independence from Great Britain
- declared our independence from Great Britain
- said that the U.S. is free from Great Britain
Explanation: Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was announced. the separation of the United States from Great Britain.
9. What are the two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Correct answers (choose two):
- life
- liberty
- pursuit of happiness
Explanation: The Declaration of Independence proclaims that all people are created equal. that everyone has three fundamental rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
10. What is freedom of religion?
Correct answer: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
Explanation: The First Amendment states that everyone in the U.S. has the right to choose. what religion to follow, including the right to change your religion at any time.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
Correct answers (choose one):
- capitalist economy
- market economy
Explanation: Capitalism is a type of economic system wherein private individuals. not the government, own the majority of businesses, and can generate profit.
12. What is the “rule of law”?
Correct answers (choose one):
- Everyone must follow the law.
- Leaders must obey the law.
- Government must obey the law.
- No one is above the law.
Explanation: The notion of the rule of law is a fundamental principle of the U.S. Constitution.
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government*
Correct answers (choose one):
- Congress
- legislative
- President
- Executive
- the courts
- judicial
Explanation: The United States government is divided into three parts to ensure a separation of powers. The three branches work together to govern the country.
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Correct answers (choose one):
- checks and balances
- separation of powers
Explanation: Checks and balances ensure. that no one branch of the U.S. government becomes too powerful.
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Correct answer: The President
Explanation: The President of the United States oversees the executive branch. which ensures that the laws of the country are obeyed.
16. Who makes federal laws?
Correct answers (choose one):
- Congress
- Senate and House of Representatives
- U.S. or national legislature
Explanation: Congress is the only branch of government. that can create new laws or change existing laws.
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
Correct answer: The Senate and House of Representatives
Explanation. The legislative branch of the U.S. government is responsible for making laws. and is comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives.
18. How many U.S. senators are there?
Correct Answer: 100
Explanation: Each of the 50 U.S. states elects two senators to represent them in the Senate. This excludes territories such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa. as well as the federal capital city of D.C., the District of Columbia. Fifty states with two senators each = 100 U.S. senators.
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Correct answer: 6
Explanation: The term of office for a U.S. senator is six years, and every two years. one-third of the Senate runs for reelection.
20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*
Correct answer: The answer will vary based on where the applicant lives. Note: District of Columbia residents and those living in U.S. territories. should answer that D.C. (or the territory where they live) has no senators.
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Correct answer: 435
Explanation: The House of Representatives has 435 members. who represent the population of all 50 states.
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Correct answer: 2
Explanation: All U.S. House members serve a two-year term and may run for reelection every even year.
23. Name your U.S. Representative
Correct answer: The answer will vary based on where the applicant lives. Note: District of Columbia residents and those living in U.S. territories. should answer that D.C. (or the territory where they live) has no House representatives.
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Correct answer: All people in the state
Explanation. Each state has two senators who represent all the residents of that state.
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Correct answers (choose one):
- because of the state’s population
- because they have more people
- because some states have more people
