Unofficial U.S. Citizenship Exam Flashcards
Prepared by Anshul Kumar
November 2020
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These flashcards might help you prepare for the U.S. Citizenship exam
These flashcards include content copied from this PDF file containing test questions and answers in November 2020.
These flashcards are an unofficial study tool for private use. There is no guarantee that the questions and answers are correct. The test may also have changed.
Minor edits may have been made accidentally to the questions and answers, but in most cases the questions are taken verbatim from the PDF provided by the government.
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What is the supreme law of the land?
What is the supreme law of the land?
What does the Constitution do?
What does the Constitution do?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
What is an amendment?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
announced our independence (from Great Britain)
declared our independence (from Great Britain)
said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
What is freedom of religion?
- You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
What is the economic system in the United States?
What is the economic system in the United States?
capitalist economy
market economy
What is the “rule of law”?
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.
Name one branch or part of the government.
Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances
separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Who makes federal laws?
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- the Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many U.S. Senators are there?
How many U.S. Senators are there?
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
- four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Name your U.S. Representative.
Name your U.S. Representative.
- Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because of) the state’s population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people
We elect a President for how many years?
We elect a President for how many years?
In what month do we vote for President?
In what month do we vote for President?
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
Who signs bills to become laws?
Who signs bills to become laws?
Who vetoes bills?
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
What does the judicial branch do?
What does the judicial branch do?
What is the highest court in the United States?
What is the highest court in the United States?
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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
approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Who is the Governor of your state now?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]
What is the capital of your state?
What is the capital of your state?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
- Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
What is the political party of the President now?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the political party of the President.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A male citizen of any race (can vote).
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Name one right only for United States citizens.
Name one right only for United States citizens.
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
give up loyalty to other countries
defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
obey the laws of the United States
serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
vote
join a political party
help with a campaign
join a civic group
join a community group
give an elected official your opinion on an issue
call Senators and Representatives
publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
run for office
write to a newspaper
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
What is one reason colonists came to America?
What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians
Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Why did the colonists fight the British?
because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
because they didn’t have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
There were 13 original states. Name three.
There were 13 original states. Name three.
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
When was the Constitution written?
When was the Constitution written?
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S. diplomat
oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
first Postmaster General of the United States
writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
started the first free libraries
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
Who was the first President?
Who was the first President?
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery
economic reasons
states’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did
freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
saved (or preserved) the Union
led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves
freed slaves in the Confederacy
freed slaves in the Confederate states
freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
Who was President during World War I?
Who was President during World War I?
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
- Japan, Germany, and Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
- Terrorists attacked the United States.
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
[Officers will be supplied with a list of federally recognized American Indian tribes.]
Cherokee
Navajo
Sioux
Chippewa
Choctaw
Pueblo
Apache
Iroquois
Creek
Blackfeet
Seminole
Cheyenne
Arawak
Shawnee
Mohegan
Huron
Oneida
Lakota
Crow
Teton
Hopi
Inuit
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Missouri (River)
Mississippi (River)
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Name one U.S. territory.
Name one U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
Name one state that borders Canada.
Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico.
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
What is the capital of the United States
What is the capital of the United States
Where is the Statue of Liberty
Where is the Statue of Liberty
New York (Harbor)
Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
because there is one star for each state
because each star represents a state
because there are 50 states
What is the name of the national anthem?
What is the name of the national anthem?
When do we celebrate Independence Day
When do we celebrate Independence Day
Name two national U.S. holidays.
Name two national U.S. holidays.
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