US Citizenship Test Flashcards: Civics Practice
60 cards · free to study, print and copy
US Citizenship Test Flashcards: Civics Practice
Card 1 of 60
Question
What is the supreme law of the land?
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About this deck
These 60 cards cover the civics topics on the US naturalization test: the Constitution, the three branches of government, rights and responsibilities, American history, and national symbols. Each card has a question on the front and a short accepted answer on the back.
The deck sticks to facts that do not change. Questions whose answers depend on where you live or who holds office today, such as your senators or the current Speaker, are left out. Look those up for your state before the interview.
USCIS updates the official question list from time to time, and the test version you take depends on your filing date. Check the current list at uscis.gov and add any missing questions to your own copy of this deck.
Study tips
- Say each answer out loud. The civics test is spoken, so practise answering the way the officer will hear it.
- Group the history cards by era — colonial period, founding, Civil War, 1900s — so the dates hang together.
- Copy the deck to My decks and add cards for your senators, representative, governor and state capital.
- Short answers are fine. The officer needs one correct answer, not a speech.
All 60 cards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| What is the supreme law of the land? | The Constitution |
| What does the Constitution do? | Sets up the government, defines the government, and protects the basic rights of Americans |
| The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? | We the People |
| What is an amendment? | A change or addition to the Constitution |
| What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? | The Bill of Rights |
| What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? | Speech, religion, assembly, press, or petition the government |
| How many amendments does the Constitution have? | Twenty-seven (27) |
| What did the Declaration of Independence do? | Announced our independence from Great Britain |
| What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? | Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness |
| What is freedom of religion? | You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion |
| What is the economic system in the United States? | Capitalist economy (market economy) |
| What is the "rule of law"? | Everyone must follow the law, including leaders and government |
| Name one branch or part of the government. | Congress (legislative), President (executive), or the courts (judicial) |
| What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? | Checks and balances (separation of powers) |
| Who is in charge of the executive branch? | The President |
| Who makes federal laws? | Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) |
| What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? | The Senate and the House of Representatives |
| How many U.S. Senators are there? | One hundred (100) |
| We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? | Six (6) |
| How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? | Four hundred thirty-five (435) |
| We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? | Two (2) |
| Who does a U.S. Senator represent? | All people of the state |
| Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? | Because of the state's population |
| We elect a President for how many years? | Four (4) |
| In what month do we vote for President? | November |
| If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? | The Vice President |
| If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? | The Speaker of the House |
| Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? | The President |
| Who signs bills to become laws? | The President |
| Who vetoes bills? | The President |
| What does the President's Cabinet do? | Advises the President |
| What does the judicial branch do? | Reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disputes, and decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
| What is the highest court in the United States? | The Supreme Court |
| Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? | To print money, declare war, create an army, or make treaties |
| 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, or approve zoning and land use |
| What are the two major political parties in the United States? | Democratic and Republican |
| What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? | Serve on a jury, or vote in a federal election |
| Name one right only for United States citizens. | Vote in a federal election, or run for federal office |
| How old do citizens have to be to vote for President? | Eighteen (18) and older |
| When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? | April 15 |
| What is one reason colonists came to America? | Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, or to escape persecution |
| Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? | American Indians (Native Americans) |
| Why did the colonists fight the British? | Because of high taxes (taxation without representation), the British army stayed in their houses, and they did not have self-government |
| Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? | Thomas Jefferson |
| When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? | July 4, 1776 |
| There were 13 original states. Name three. | For example: New York, Virginia, Massachusetts (also NH, RI, CT, NJ, PA, DE, MD, NC, SC, GA) |
| What happened at the Constitutional Convention? | The Constitution was written; the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution |
| When was the Constitution written? | 1787 |
| Who is the "Father of Our Country"? | George Washington |
| Who was the first President? | George Washington |
| What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? | The Louisiana Territory |
| Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. | The Civil War |
| What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? | Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved the Union, or led the United States during the Civil War |
| What did Susan B. Anthony do? | Fought for women's rights and civil rights |
| Who was President during World War I? | Woodrow Wilson |
| Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? | Franklin Roosevelt |
| What movement tried to end racial discrimination? | The civil rights movement |
| What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? | Fought for civil rights and worked for equality for all Americans |
| Why does the flag have 13 stripes? | Because there were 13 original colonies |
| Why does the flag have 50 stars? | Because there are 50 states (one star for each state) |
Frequently asked questions
›Is this the official USCIS question list?
No. It is a practice deck built from the stable civics facts the test covers. USCIS publishes the official questions and accepted answers on uscis.gov, and the version you take depends on when you filed.
›Why are some questions missing, like the name of the President?
Answers that change with elections or depend on your state would go out of date. Make your own cards for those and check them shortly before your interview.
›Can I print these for study?
Yes. Open the deck, choose Print, and the cards come out double-sided so the answer lands on the back of each question.
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