The civics test is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the naturalization interview. Applicants study from an official list of questions and answers that USCIS publishes, and the officer asks questions orally. An applicant who does not pass gets a second chance, usually within a few months.
This guide explains how the test works and organizes its main government topics, linking each to a full briefgov entry for deeper study. It is general information, not legal advice. Official requirements and study materials are published by USCIS.
Questions on federalism ask which powers belong to the federal government, such as printing money, declaring war, and making treaties, and which belong to the states, such as providing schools, police, and driver's licenses. Applicants also name their state's governor and capital. Applicants from Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory answer these questions in light of their own government.
The largest group of questions covers the three branches and how they check one another. Applicants learn the number of senators and representatives, their terms, who they represent, and why some states have more representatives. They learn who signs and vetoes bills, who is commander in chief, what the Cabinet does, who becomes President if the President can no longer serve, and what the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice do. Several questions ask for current officeholders.
Questions in this group ask about the supreme law of the land, what the Constitution does, the first words of the Constitution, what an amendment is, the Bill of Rights, and the ideas of self-government and the rule of law. They also cover the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first governing document.
The history questions run from the colonial era and the Revolution through the Civil War, the world wars, the civil rights movement, and the September 11 attacks. Symbols and holidays questions cover the flag, the national anthem, and the meaning of holidays such as Independence Day. Several history topics connect to how government was built, including the Constitutional Convention, the war powers of Congress, and the amendments adopted after the Civil War.
The civics test has been part of naturalization for decades, and a standardized list of 100 questions was introduced in 2008. A 128-question version briefly took effect in December 2020 and was withdrawn in 2021. In 2025 USCIS adopted a new 128-question test, under which the officer stops once the applicant has answered 12 questions correctly or missed 9. Applicants who fail any part of the testing may retake that part once. Applicants aged 65 or older with at least 20 years as permanent residents study a shorter list of questions, and some older long-term residents may take the civics test in their own language.
These questions cover the constitutional amendments on voting, the rights that apply to everyone living in the United States, the promises made in the Oath of Allegiance, and responsibilities that belong only to citizens, such as voting in federal elections and serving on juries. They also cover the minimum voting age, registering with the Selective Service, and how Americans participate in democracy, from voting to contacting elected officials.
Build a foundation with the three branches of government, review the founding text in the Constitution, article by article, or study the amendments in the Bill of Rights, amendment by amendment.