US Civics Practice Test 8

20 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Civics Test. Free, no account needed.

This bank covers 120 of the 128 official questions. The other eight have no fixed answer, so a practice test cannot mark them. Four ask who currently holds an office — President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice — which USCIS answers with whoever is serving on the day of your interview. Four depend on where you live: your senators, your representative, your governor, your state capital. Look those up before your interview; the officeholders are at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.

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1. The Great Compromise, which gave each state two senators, is also known by what name?

  1. Connecticut Compromise
  2. Virginia Compromise
  3. Missouri Compromise
  4. Electoral Compromise

Answer: A — Connecticut Compromise

The Great Compromise is also called the Connecticut Compromise. This comes from official question 28.

2. The Supreme Court and the other federal courts are part of which branch of government?

  1. The Electoral College
  2. Judicial branch
  3. Legislative branch
  4. Executive branch

Answer: B — Judicial branch

The Supreme Court and federal courts make up the judicial branch. This comes from official question 50.

3. Which of these is one power of the president?

  1. Reviews laws
  2. Makes the federal budget
  3. Chief diplomat
  4. Declares war

Answer: C — Chief diplomat

Chief diplomat is listed as one power of the president. Declaring war and making the federal budget are powers of Congress, and reviewing laws is done by the judicial branch. This comes from official questions 41, 20, and 51.

4. Which two powers belong only to the states? (Choose two.)

  1. Print paper money
  2. Declare war
  3. Create an army
  4. Give a driver’s license
  5. Provide safety (fire departments)

Answer: D,E — Give a driver’s license / Provide safety (fire departments)

Fire departments and driver's licenses are state powers. Declaring war, creating an army, and printing money are only for the federal government. This comes from official questions 58 and 59.

5. A state tries to charge citizens a fee before they are allowed to vote. What do the amendments about voting say?

  1. Only property owners may vote.
  2. Only citizens twenty-one (21) and older may vote.
  3. Only citizens who pass a test may vote.
  4. You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.

Answer: D — You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.

One of the four voting amendments says you do not have to pay a poll tax to vote. This comes from official question 63.

6. Which two are rights of everyone living in the United States, not only citizens? (Choose two.)

  1. The right to vote in federal elections
  2. Freedom of assembly
  3. Freedom of religion
  4. The right to serve on a jury
  5. The right to run for federal office

Answer: B,C — Freedom of assembly / Freedom of religion

Freedom of assembly and freedom of religion belong to everyone living in the United States. Voting, running for federal office, and jury service are for citizens only. This comes from official questions 65 and 64.

7. Which two are examples of civic participation in the United States? (Choose two.)

  1. Serve as a Supreme Court justice
  2. Veto bills
  3. Write to a newspaper
  4. Join a community group
  5. Mint coins

Answer: C,D — Write to a newspaper / Join a community group

Joining a community group and writing to a newspaper are listed examples of civic participation. Vetoing bills is a power of the president, and minting coins is a power only for the federal government. This comes from official questions 69, 44, and 58.

8. Which two were reasons Americans declared independence from Britain? (Choose two.)

  1. British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses
  2. The Louisiana Purchase
  3. The Mayflower Compact
  4. The Stamp Act
  5. The Federalist Papers

Answer: A,D — British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses / The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act and British soldiers staying in Americans' houses were reasons for declaring independence. This comes from official question 77.

9. Which two were important events of the American Revolution? (Choose two.)

  1. Battle of Gettysburg
  2. Battle of Saratoga
  3. Battle of Fort Sumter
  4. Valley Forge Encampment
  5. Battle of Vicksburg

Answer: B,D — Battle of Saratoga / Valley Forge Encampment

Saratoga and Valley Forge were events of the American Revolution. Gettysburg, Fort Sumter, and Vicksburg were Civil War events. This comes from official questions 80 and 93.

10. Who was the first Postmaster General of the United States?

  1. Thomas Jefferson
  2. James Madison
  3. Alexander Hamilton
  4. Benjamin Franklin

Answer: D — Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster General. This comes from official question 85.

11. Which person is known as the “Father of Our Country”?

  1. George Washington
  2. Abraham Lincoln
  3. James Madison
  4. Thomas Jefferson

Answer: A — George Washington

George Washington is called the “Father of Our Country.” This comes from official question 86.

12. Which Founding Father founded the University of Virginia?

  1. Benjamin Franklin
  2. James Madison
  3. Alexander Hamilton
  4. Thomas Jefferson

Answer: D — Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. This comes from official question 87.

13. Who was president during the War of 1812?

  1. Abraham Lincoln
  2. George Washington
  3. Thomas Jefferson
  4. James Madison

Answer: D — James Madison

James Madison was president during the War of 1812. This comes from official question 88.

14. Which two wars did the United States fight in the 1800s? (Choose two.)

  1. Vietnam War
  2. World War I
  3. Mexican-American War
  4. Korean War
  5. War of 1812

Answer: C,E — Mexican-American War / War of 1812

The War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War were fought in the 1800s. The other options were 1900s wars. This comes from official questions 91 and 100.

15. Which two were important events of the Civil War? (Choose two.)

  1. Valley Forge Encampment
  2. Battle of Antietam
  3. Battle of Bunker Hill
  4. Battle of Yorktown
  5. Surrender at Appomattox

Answer: B,E — Battle of Antietam / Surrender at Appomattox

Antietam and the surrender at Appomattox were Civil War events. Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and Yorktown were Revolution events. This comes from official questions 93 and 80.

16. In World War I, the United States supported the Allied Powers. Which two countries were Allied Powers? (Choose two.)

  1. Germany
  2. England
  3. Bulgaria
  4. Austria-Hungary
  5. France

Answer: B,E — England / France

England and France were Allied Powers. Germany, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary were Central Powers. This comes from official question 101.

17. In World War II, the United States opposed the Axis Powers. Which two countries were Axis Powers? (Choose two.)

  1. Russia
  2. Italy
  3. England
  4. Japan
  5. France

Answer: B,D — Italy / Japan

Japan and Italy were Axis Powers. England, France, and Russia were Allied Powers. This comes from official question 106.

18. Before becoming president, in which war did Dwight Eisenhower serve as a general?

  1. World War I
  2. World War II
  3. Civil War
  4. Korean War

Answer: B — World War II

Eisenhower was a general during World War II. This comes from official question 107.

19. On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed a plane into the Pentagon. In which state is the Pentagon located?

  1. Maryland
  2. Virginia
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. New York

Answer: B — Virginia

The Pentagon is in Arlington, Virginia. This comes from official question 115.

20. Which two are national U.S. holidays? (Choose two.)

  1. Flag Day
  2. Election Day
  3. Easter
  4. Juneteenth
  5. Labor Day

Answer: D,E — Juneteenth / Labor Day

Juneteenth and Labor Day are national U.S. holidays. This comes from official question 126.

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