19 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.
Answer: A — President
The document's accepted answers are the President, the Cabinet, and federal departments and agencies. The Supreme Court is listed instead as a part of the judicial branch (#50), and Congress and the House of Representatives appear nowhere among the executive branch's parts.
Answer: B — Advises the President
The document's only accepted answer is that the Cabinet advises the President. Reviewing and explaining laws belongs to the judicial branch (#51) and deciding who is elected president to the Electoral College (#49); neither, nor passing legislation, is on this question's answer list.
Answer: C — Attorney General and Secretary of State
The document lists Attorney General and Secretary of State among the twenty-two accepted Cabinet-level positions. The Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, Chief Justice, Solicitor General, Chair of the Federal Reserve and Comptroller General appear nowhere on that list.
Answer: D — It decides who is elected president.
The document's accepted answers are that the Electoral College decides who is elected president and that it provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection. Counting the national popular vote, confirming Cabinet nominees and certifying state results are not on that list.
Answer: A — Supreme Court
The document lists the Supreme Court and the federal courts as the parts of the judicial branch. The Cabinet is listed instead under the executive branch (#46), and the House of Representatives and the Federal Reserve are not on either list.
Answer: B — Reviews laws
The document's accepted answers are reviewing laws, explaining laws, resolving disputes about the law, and deciding if a law goes against the Constitution. Writing and passing laws, enforcing laws and declaring war are not among them — the document lists declaring war as a power only for the federal government (#58), not as a judicial function.
Answer: C — Supreme Court
The document's only accepted answer is the Supreme Court. The Courts of Appeals, District Courts and the Court of International Trade are not named as the highest court anywhere in the document.
Answer: D — Nine
The document's only accepted answer is nine (9). No other number is accepted for the size of the Court.
Answer: A — Five
The document's only accepted answer is five (5). Nine is the number of seats on the Court (#53), not the number of justices usually needed to decide a case.
Answer: B — Life
The document accepts "(for) life," "lifetime appointment," and "(until) retirement." No fixed term of years is an accepted answer.
Answer: C — To be independent
The document's accepted answers are to be independent (of politics) and to limit outside (political) influence. Preventing elections, equal state representation and workload are not on that list.
Answer: D — Print paper money
The document lists printing paper money among the powers only for the federal government. Giving a driver's license, providing schooling and education, and approving zoning and land use are listed as powers only for the states (#59).
Answer: A — Provide schooling and education
The document lists providing schooling and education among the powers only for the states. Declaring war, printing paper money and making treaties are listed as powers only for the federal government (#58).
Answer: B — Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
The document's sole accepted answer is that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people. It does not attach freedom of speech and religion, the abolition of slavery, or trial rights to the 10th Amendment.
Answer: A — Citizens eighteen and older can vote.
The document lists exactly four accepted descriptions: 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); a male citizen of any race can vote. Direct election of senators, presidential term limits and separate ballots are not among them.
Answer: B — Citizens
The document accepts only "citizens," "citizens of the United States," and "U.S. citizens." Residence, age or voter registration without citizenship is not an accepted answer.
Answer: C — Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion
The document lists freedom of expression, speech, assembly, petition, religion and the right to bear arms as rights of everyone living in the United States. Voting in federal elections, running for federal office and serving on a jury belong to citizens (#64), so every option containing one of them is wrong.
Answer: D — The United States
The document's accepted answers are the United States and the flag. The President, the Constitution and state governments are not on that list — the document attaches defending the Constitution to the Oath of Allegiance (#67), not to the Pledge.
Answer: A — Give up loyalty to other countries and obey the laws of the United States
The document lists these promises: give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution, obey the laws of the United States, serve in the military or serve the nation if needed, and be loyal to the United States. Tests, English ability, fees, registration and residence do not appear among them.