How the 128 questions are organized

USCIS groups the questions into three broad sections, and studying by section is much easier than studying by number.

• American Government (about half of the test): principles of American democracy, the system of government (the three branches, Congress, the President, the courts, and federal versus state powers), and rights and responsibilities of citizens.
• American History: the colonial period and independence, the 1800s (the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and Lincoln), and recent history from World War I through September 11, 2001.
• Symbols and Holidays, plus a short set of geography questions about rivers, oceans, borders, territories, and the capital.

Questions whose answers change

Seven questions do not have a fixed answer and must be checked before your interview: the name of the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice of the United States, and, for your own state, the Governor, one of your two U.S. Senators, and your U.S. Representative. USCIS updates its official answer list when these change, and our full question list is reviewed after every election.

Questions with more than one acceptable answer

Many questions say “name one” or “name two” and have a list of acceptable answers. You need to give only the number requested. For “What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?” either “serve on a jury” or “vote in a federal election” is enough. For “Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s,” any of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the Persian Gulf War is correct. Pick the answer that is easiest for you to pronounce and remember, and practice that one.

Sample questions from each section

• What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution.
• Name the three branches of government. Legislative, executive, and judicial.
• How many U.S. senators are there? One hundred (100).
• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson.
• What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? The Louisiana Territory.
• Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? Franklin Roosevelt.
• Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. The Missouri River or the Mississippi River.
• Why does the flag have 50 stars? One star for each state.

How the questions are asked at the interview

The officer asks up to 20 questions orally, in English, in no particular order, and stops when you reach 12 correct or 9 incorrect answers. You may ask the officer to repeat a question. Short answers are fine; you do not need full sentences. If you give a wrong answer and immediately correct yourself, officers generally accept the correction. Applicants who are 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident study only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk.

The fastest way to learn all 128

Read the full list once for understanding, then switch to active practice: the 20-question quiz in the real interview format, flashcards for the answers you keep missing, and the mock interview in the final week. Twenty to thirty minutes a day for three to four weeks is enough for most applicants.

Last reviewed and expanded by the USCitizenTestPractice Editorial Team in September 2026, based on the USCIS Policy Manual, the official 2025 civics test materials, and current USCIS fee and form instructions. This is an independent study resource, not legal advice.