All 128 New Citizenship Test Questions for 2025: Complete Study Guide with Answers

All 128 New Citizenship Test Questions for 2025: Complete Study Guide with Answers

If you are preparing for the U.S. naturalization test in 2025 and beyond, you need to know about a major change. USCIS has released an updated civics test with 128 questions, replacing the previous 100-question test that has been in use since 2008. The new test takes effect on October 20, 2025, and understanding what changed is critical to passing on your first attempt.

This guide contains every single question, organized by category, with correct answers and study tips. We have also marked which questions are brand new so you know exactly where to focus your study time.

Practice these questions with our free quiz mode -- available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and more.

How the 2025 Civics Test Works

During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you 20 questions from the pool of 128. You must answer at least 12 correctly to pass the civics portion. The officer will stop once you reach 12 correct answers.

Here is how the 2025 test compares to the 2008 version:

The pass rate stays at 60%, but with 20 questions asked instead of 10, you have more opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge. However, the expanded question pool means you need to study more material.

Of the 128 questions, 65 are carried over (sometimes with updated wording) from the 2008 test, and 63 are completely new. If you previously studied for the old test, you already have a head start.

American Government: Principles of American Government (Questions 1-15)

This section covers the foundational ideas behind the U.S. government, including the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and core principles like rule of law.

Q1. What is the form of government of the United States? A: Republic; Constitution-based federal republic; Representative democracy

Q2. What is the supreme law of the land? A: The U.S. Constitution

Q3. [NEW] Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. A: Forms the government; Defines powers of government; Defines the parts of government; Protects the rights of the people

Q4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean? A: Self-government; Popular sovereignty; Consent of the governed; People should govern themselves

Q5. [NEW] How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution? A: Amendments; The amendment process

Q6. [NEW] What does the Bill of Rights protect? A: The basic rights of Americans; The basic rights of people living in the United States

Q7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? A: Twenty-seven (27)

Q8. [NEW] Why is the Declaration of Independence important? A: It says America is free from British control; It says all people are created equal; It identifies inherent rights; It identifies individual freedoms

Q9. [NEW] What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain? A: Declaration of Independence

Q10. [NEW] Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. A: Equality; Liberty; Social contract; Natural rights; Limited government; Self-government

Q11. [NEW] The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document? A: Declaration of Independence

Q12. What is the economic system of the United States? A: Capitalism; Free market economy

Q13. What is the rule of law? A: Everyone must follow the law; Leaders must obey the law; Government must obey the law; No one is above the law

Q14. [NEW] Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. A: Declaration of Independence; Articles of Confederation; Federalist Papers; Anti-Federalist Papers; Virginia Declaration of Rights; Fundamental Orders of Connecticut; Mayflower Compact; Iroquois Great Law of Peace

Q15. [NEW] There are three branches of government. Why? A: So one part does not become too powerful; Checks and balances; Separation of powers

Study tip: Focus on understanding why these principles exist, not just memorizing answers. The new test emphasizes reasoning -- questions like Q15 ask you to explain the purpose behind government structures.

American Government: System of Government (Questions 16-62)

This is the largest section with 47 questions covering Congress, the President, the courts, and state government. Many questions in this section are new.

Congress (Questions 16-35)

Q16. [NEW] Name the three branches of government. A: Legislative, executive, and judicial

Q17. [NEW] The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government? A: Executive branch

Q18. [NEW] What part of the federal government writes laws? A: U.S. Congress; Legislature; Legislative branch

Q19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? A: Senate and House of Representatives

Q20. [NEW] Name one power of the U.S. Congress. A: Writes laws; Declares war; Makes the federal budget

Q21. How many U.S. senators are there? A: One hundred (100)

Q22. [NEW] How long is a term for a U.S. senator? A: Six (6) years

Q23. Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now? A: Answers will vary by state

Q24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? A: Four hundred thirty-five (435)

Q25. [NEW] How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? A: Two (2) years

Q26. [NEW] Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators? A: To more closely follow public opinion

Q27. [NEW] How many senators does each state have? A: Two (2)

Q28. [NEW] Why does each state have two senators? A: Equal representation for small states; The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Q29. Name your U.S. representative. A: Answers will vary by district

Q30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? A: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name

Q31. Who does a U.S. senator represent? A: Citizens of their state

Q32. [NEW] Who elects U.S. senators? A: Citizens from their state

Q33. [NEW] Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent? A: Citizens in their congressional district

Q34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives? A: Citizens from their congressional district

Q35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why? A: Because of the state's population

The President (Questions 36-49)

Q36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? A: Four (4) years

Q37. [NEW] The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why? A: Because of the 22nd Amendment; To keep the president from becoming too powerful

Q38. What is the name of the President of the United States now? A: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name

Q39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? A: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name

Q40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? A: The Vice President

Q41. [NEW] Name one power of the president. A: Signs bills into law; Vetoes bills; Enforces laws; Commander in Chief of the military; Chief diplomat; Appoints federal judges

Q42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? A: The President

Q43. Who signs bills to become laws? A: The President

Q44. Who vetoes bills? A: The President

Q45. [NEW] Who appoints federal judges? A: The President

Q46. [NEW] The executive branch has many parts. Name one. A: President; Cabinet; Federal departments and agencies

Q47. What does the President's Cabinet do? A: Advises the President

Q48. What are two Cabinet-level positions? A: Secretary of State; Secretary of the Treasury; Secretary of Defense; Attorney General; Secretary of Education; Secretary of Homeland Security (and many more -- any two valid Cabinet positions are accepted)

Q49. [NEW] Why is the Electoral College important? A: It decides who is elected president; It provides a compromise between popular election and congressional selection

The Courts (Questions 50-57)

Q50. What is one part of the judicial branch? A: Supreme Court; Federal Courts

Q51. What does the judicial branch do? A: Reviews laws; Explains laws; Resolves disputes; Decides if a law goes against the Constitution

Q52. What is the highest court in the United States? A: Supreme Court

Q53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court? A: Nine (9)

Q54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case? A: Five (5)

Q55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve? A: For life; Lifetime appointment

Q56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why? A: To be independent of politics; To limit outside political influence

Q57. [NEW] Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? A: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name

Federal vs. State Government (Questions 58-62)

Q58. [NEW] Name one power that is only for the federal government. A: Print paper money; Declare war; Create an army; Make treaties; Set foreign policy

Q59. [NEW] Name one power that is only for the states. A: Provide schooling and education; Provide police protection; Provide fire departments; Give a driver's license; Approve zoning and land use

Q60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment? A: Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people

Q61. Who is the governor of your state now? A: Answers will vary by state

Q62. What is the capital of your state? A: Answers will vary by state

Study tip: This is the biggest section. Break it into sub-topics: Congress, the President, the Courts, and Federalism. Study one sub-topic per day. For questions about current officeholders (Q23, Q29, Q30, Q38, Q39, Q57, Q61, Q62), look up your specific answers and review them weekly since they can change.

American Government: Rights and Responsibilities (Questions 63-72)

Q63. There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. A: Citizens 18 and older can vote; You don't have to pay a poll tax to vote; Any citizen can vote (women and men); A male citizen of any race can vote

Q64. [NEW] Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States? A: Citizens; U.S. citizens

Q65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? A: Freedom of expression; Freedom of speech; Freedom of assembly; Freedom to petition the government; Freedom of religion; The right to bear arms

Q66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? A: The United States; The flag

Q67. [NEW] Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance. A: Give up loyalty to other countries; Defend the Constitution; Obey the laws; Serve in the military if needed; Be loyal to the United States

Q68. [NEW] How can people become United States citizens? A: Be born in the United States; Naturalize; Derive citizenship

Q69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States? A: Vote; Run for office; Join a political party; Help with a campaign; Join a community group; Contact elected officials

Q70. [NEW] What is one way Americans can serve their country? A: Vote; Pay taxes; Obey the law; Serve in the military; Run for office

Q71. [NEW] Why is it important to pay federal taxes? A: Required by law; Civic duty; Required by the 16th Amendment

Q72. [NEW] It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why. A: Required by law; Civic duty; Makes the draft fair, if needed

American History: Colonial Period and Independence (Questions 73-89)

This section has been significantly expanded in 2025, with many new questions about the Founding Fathers and the events of the American Revolution.

Q73. [NEW] The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one. A: Freedom; Political liberty; Religious freedom; Economic opportunity; Escape persecution

Q74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? A: American Indians; Native Americans

Q75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves? A: Africans; People from Africa

Q76. [NEW] What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain? A: American Revolution; The Revolutionary War; War for American Independence

Q77. [NEW] Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain. A: High taxes; Taxation without representation; British soldiers in Americans' houses; No self-government; Boston Massacre; Boston Tea Party; Stamp Act; Sugar Act

Q78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? A: Thomas Jefferson

Q79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? A: July 4, 1776

Q80. [NEW] The American Revolution had many important events. Name one. A: Battle of Bunker Hill; Declaration of Independence; Washington Crossing the Delaware; Battle of Saratoga; Valley Forge; Battle of Yorktown

Q81. There were 13 original states. Name five. A: New Hampshire; Massachusetts; Rhode Island; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; Georgia

Q82. [NEW] What founding document was written in 1787? A: The U.S. Constitution

Q83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. A: James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; Publius

Q84. [NEW] Why were the Federalist Papers important? A: They helped people understand the Constitution; They supported passing the Constitution

Q85. [NEW] Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. A: Founded the first free public libraries; First Postmaster General; Helped write the Declaration of Independence; Inventor; U.S. diplomat

Q86. [NEW] George Washington is famous for many things. Name one. A: Father of Our Country; First president; General of the Continental Army; President of the Constitutional Convention

Q87. [NEW] Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one. A: Writer of the Declaration of Independence; Third president; Louisiana Purchase; First Secretary of State; Founded the University of Virginia

Q88. [NEW] James Madison is famous for many things. Name one. A: "Father of the Constitution"; Fourth president; President during the War of 1812; One of the writers of the Federalist Papers

Q89. [NEW] Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one. A: First Secretary of the Treasury; One of the writers of the Federalist Papers; Helped establish the First Bank of the United States; Aide to General Washington

Study tip: The "famous for many things" questions (Q85-Q89) are new and heavily tested. You only need to name ONE accomplishment, so pick the one you remember most easily.

American History: 1800s (Questions 90-99)

Q90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? A: Louisiana Territory; Louisiana

Q91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. A: War of 1812; Mexican-American War; Civil War; Spanish-American War

Q92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. A: The Civil War

Q93. [NEW] The Civil War had many important events. Name one. A: Battle of Fort Sumter; Emancipation Proclamation; Battle of Vicksburg; Battle of Gettysburg; Sherman's March; Surrender at Appomattox; Lincoln was assassinated

Q94. [NEW] Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. A: Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation); Saved the Union; Led the United States during the Civil War; 16th president; Delivered the Gettysburg Address

Q95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? A: Freed the slaves; Freed slaves in the Confederacy

Q96. [NEW] What U.S. war ended slavery? A: The Civil War

Q97. What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States are U.S. citizens? A: 14th Amendment

Q98. [NEW] When did all men get the right to vote? A: After the Civil War; During Reconstruction; With the 15th Amendment; 1870

Q99. [NEW] Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s. A: Susan B. Anthony; Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Sojourner Truth; Harriet Tubman; Lucretia Mott; Lucy Stone

American History: Recent History (Questions 100-118)

Q100. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. A: World War I; World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War; Persian Gulf War

Q101. Why did the United States enter World War I? A: Germany attacked U.S. ships; To support the Allied Powers; To oppose the Central Powers

Q102. [NEW] When did all women get the right to vote? A: 1920; After World War I; With the 19th Amendment

Q103. [NEW] What was the Great Depression? A: Longest economic recession in modern history

Q104. [NEW] When did the Great Depression start? A: The Great Crash (1929); Stock market crash of 1929

Q105. Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II? A: Franklin Roosevelt

Q106. Why did the United States enter World War II? A: Bombing of Pearl Harbor; To support the Allied Powers; To oppose the Axis Powers

Q107. [NEW] Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one. A: General during World War II; President at the end of the Korean War; 34th president; Signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956

Q108. Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War? A: Soviet Union; USSR; Russia

Q109. During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States? A: Communism; Nuclear war

Q110. [NEW] Why did the United States enter the Korean War? A: To stop the spread of communism

Q111. [NEW] Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War? A: To stop the spread of communism

Q112. [NEW] What did the civil rights movement do? A: Fought to end racial discrimination

Q113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. A: Fought for civil rights; Worked for equality for all Americans

Q114. [NEW] Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War? A: To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait

Q115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? A: Terrorists attacked the United States; Terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

Q116. [NEW] Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks. A: Global War on Terror; War in Afghanistan; War in Iraq

Q117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. A: Cherokee; Navajo; Sioux; Apache; Chippewa; Choctaw; Pueblo; Seminole (and many more)

Q118. [NEW] Name one example of an American innovation. A: Light bulb; Automobile; Skyscrapers; Airplane; Assembly line; Landing on the moon; Integrated circuit

Study tip: For the war questions, notice the pattern: the Cold War era wars (Korea, Vietnam) both have the same answer -- "to stop the spread of communism." Grouping similar answers together makes memorization much easier.

Integrated Civics: Symbols and Holidays (Questions 119-128)

Q119. What is the capital of the United States? A: Washington, D.C.

Q120. Where is the Statue of Liberty? A: New York Harbor; Liberty Island

Q121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? A: Because there were 13 original colonies

Q122. Why does the flag have 50 stars? A: Because there is one star for each state; Because there are 50 states

Q123. What is the name of the national anthem? A: The Star-Spangled Banner

Q124. [NEW] The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean? A: Out of many, one; We all become one

Q125. What is Independence Day? A: A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence from Britain; The country's birthday

Q126. Name three national U.S. holidays. A: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day

Q127. [NEW] What is Memorial Day? A: A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service

Q128. [NEW] What is Veterans Day? A: A holiday to honor people in the U.S. military; A holiday to honor people who have served in the U.S. military

Study tip: Do not confuse Memorial Day (Q127) and Veterans Day (Q128). Memorial Day honors those who died serving. Veterans Day honors all who served. This is a common mistake on the test.

How to Study: A 4-Week Plan

Week 1: American Government -- Principles (Q1-15) and System of Government, Congress section (Q16-35)

Week 2: System of Government, President and Courts (Q36-57) and Federal vs. State (Q58-62), Rights and Responsibilities (Q63-72)

Week 3: All of American History (Q73-118)

Week 4: Integrated Civics (Q119-128), review all sections, and take full practice tests

Tips That Actually Help

1. You only need ONE correct answer. For questions that list multiple acceptable answers, pick the one that is easiest for you to remember and stick with it.

2. Look up your local answers. Questions about your state's governor, capital, senators, and representative require answers specific to where you live.

3. Study the NEW questions harder. With 63 new questions in the pool, USCIS is likely to include several in your interview. Pay special attention to the Founding Fathers questions (Q85-Q89) and the "why" questions that require reasoning.

4. Practice speaking your answers out loud. The civics test is oral, not written. You need to say your answers clearly to the USCIS officer.

5. Use quiz mode for active recall. Reading the questions is not enough. Testing yourself is proven to be far more effective than passive review.

Pass With Confidence

Studying 128 questions can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone.

Practice these questions with our free quiz mode -- test yourself on all 128 questions with instant feedback, track your progress, and focus on the questions you get wrong.

Ready to simulate the real experience? Try our AI mock interview -- practice answering civics questions out loud, just like you will with the USCIS officer. Our AI interviewer adapts to your level and helps you build confidence before your actual appointment.