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The 128 civics questions (2025 test)

The officer asks you up to 20 of these questions. You pass with 12 correct. Questions marked ★ are the 20 for the 65/20 rule.

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American Government — Principles of American Government

  1. 1 What is the form of government of the United States? Republic · Constitution-based federal republic …
  2. 2 What is the supreme law of the land? ★ (U.S.) Constitution
  3. 3 Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. Forms the government · Defines powers of government …
  4. 4 The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean? Self-government · Popular sovereignty …
  5. 5 How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution? Amendments · The amendment process
  6. 6 What does the Bill of Rights protect? (The basic) rights of Americans · (The basic) rights of people living in the United States
  7. 7 How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? ★ Twenty-seven (27)
  8. 8 Why is the Declaration of Independence important? It says America is free from British control. · It says all people are created equal. …
  9. 9 What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain? Declaration of Independence
  10. 10 Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Equality · Liberty …
  11. 11 The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document? Declaration of Independence
  12. 12 What is the economic system of the United States? ★ Capitalism · Free market economy
  13. 13 What is the rule of law? Everyone must follow the law. · Leaders must obey the law. …
  14. 14 Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. Declaration of Independence · Articles of Confederation …
  15. 15 There are three branches of government. Why? So one part does not become too powerful · Checks and balances …

American Government — System of Government

  1. 16 Name the three branches of government. Legislative, executive, and judicial · Congress, president, and the courts
  2. 17 The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government? Executive branch
  3. 18 What part of the federal government writes laws? (U.S.) Congress · (U.S. or national) legislature …
  4. 19 What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? Senate and House (of Representatives)
  5. 20 Name one power of the U.S. Congress. ★ Writes laws · Declares war …
  6. 21 How many U.S. senators are there? One hundred (100)
  7. 22 How long is a term for a U.S. senator? Six (6) years
  8. 23 Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now? Depends on your state
  9. 24 How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? Four hundred thirty-five (435)
  10. 25 How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? Two (2) years
  11. 26 Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators? To more closely follow public opinion
  12. 27 How many senators does each state have? Two (2)
  13. 28 Why does each state have two senators? Equal representation (for small states) · The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
  14. 29 Name your U.S. representative. Depends on your state
  15. 30 What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? ★ Mike Johnson · Johnson …
  16. 31 Who does a U.S. senator represent? Citizens of their state · People of their state
  17. 32 Who elects U.S. senators? Citizens from their state
  18. 33 Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent? Citizens in their (congressional) district · Citizens in their district …
  19. 34 Who elects members of the House of Representatives? Citizens from their (congressional) district
  20. 35 Some states have more representatives than other states. Why? (Because of) the state’s population · (Because) they have more people …
  21. 36 The President of the United States is elected for how many years? ★ Four (4) years
  22. 37 The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why? (Because of) the 22nd Amendment · To keep the president from becoming too powerful
  23. 38 What is the name of the President of the United States now? ★ Donald J. Trump · Donald Trump …
  24. 39 What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? ★ JD Vance · Vance
  25. 40 If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? The Vice President (of the United States)
  26. 41 Name one power of the president. Signs bills into law · Vetoes bills …
  27. 42 Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? The President (of the United States)
  28. 43 Who signs bills to become laws? The President (of the United States)
  29. 44 Who vetoes bills? ★ The President (of the United States)
  30. 45 Who appoints federal judges? The President (of the United States)
  31. 46 The executive branch has many parts. Name one. President (of the United States) · Cabinet …
  32. 47 What does the President’s Cabinet do? Advises the President (of the United States)
  33. 48 What are two Cabinet-level positions? Attorney General · Secretary of Agriculture …
  34. 49 Why is the Electoral College important? It decides who is elected president. · It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
  35. 50 What is one part of the judicial branch? Supreme Court · Federal Courts
  36. 51 What does the judicial branch do? Reviews laws · Explains laws …
  37. 52 What is the highest court in the United States? ★ Supreme Court
  38. 53 How many seats are on the Supreme Court? Nine (9)
  39. 54 How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case? Five (5)
  40. 55 How long do Supreme Court justices serve? (For) life · Lifetime appointment …
  41. 56 Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why? To be independent (of politics) · To limit outside (political) influence
  42. 57 Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? John Roberts · John G. Roberts, Jr. …
  43. 58 Name one power that is only for the federal government. Print paper money · Mint coins …
  44. 59 Name one power that is only for the states. Provide schooling and education · Provide protection (police) …
  45. 60 What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment? (It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
  46. 61 Who is the governor of your state now? ★ Depends on your state
  47. 62 What is the capital of your state? Depends on your state

American Government — Rights and Responsibilities

  1. 63 There are four amendments to the U.S. 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. …
  2. 64 Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States? Citizens · Citizens of the United States …
  3. 65 What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? Freedom of expression · Freedom of speech …
  4. 66 What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? ★ The United States · The flag
  5. 67 Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance. Give up loyalty to other countries · Defend the (U.S.) Constitution …
  6. 68 How can people become United States citizens? Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment · Naturalize …
  7. 69 What are two examples of civic participation in the United States? Vote · Run for office …
  8. 70 What is one way Americans can serve their country? Vote · Pay taxes …
  9. 71 Why is it important to pay federal taxes? Required by law · All people pay to fund the federal government …
  10. 72 It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why. Required by law · Civic duty …

American History — Colonial Period and Independence

  1. 73 The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one. Freedom · Political liberty …
  2. 74 Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? ★ American Indians · Native Americans
  3. 75 What group of people was taken and sold as slaves? Africans · People from Africa
  4. 76 What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain? American Revolution · The (American) Revolutionary War …
  5. 77 Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain. High taxes · Taxation without representation …
  6. 78 Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? ★ (Thomas) Jefferson
  7. 79 When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776
  8. 80 The American Revolution had many important events. Name one. (Battle of) Bunker Hill · Declaration of Independence …
  9. 81 There were 13 original states. Name five. New Hampshire · Massachusetts …
  10. 82 What founding document was written in 1787? (U.S.) Constitution
  11. 83 The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. (James) Madison · (Alexander) Hamilton …
  12. 84 Why were the Federalist Papers important? They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution. · They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.
  13. 85 Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. Founded the first free public libraries · First Postmaster General of the United States …
  14. 86 George Washington is famous for many things. Name one. ★ “Father of Our Country” · First president of the United States …
  15. 87 Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one. Writer of the Declaration of Independence · Third president of the United States …
  16. 88 James Madison is famous for many things. Name one. “Father of the Constitution” · Fourth president of the United States …
  17. 89 Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one. First Secretary of the Treasury · One of the writers of the Federalist Papers …

American History — 1800s

  1. 90 What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? Louisiana Territory · Louisiana
  2. 91 Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. War of 1812 · Mexican-American War …
  3. 92 Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. The Civil War
  4. 93 The Civil War had many important events. Name one. (Battle of) Fort Sumter · Emancipation Proclamation …
  5. 94 Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. ★ Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) · Saved (or preserved) the Union …
  6. 95 What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Freed the slaves · Freed slaves in the Confederacy …
  7. 96 What U.S. war ended slavery? The Civil War
  8. 97 What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens? 14th Amendment
  9. 98 When did all men get the right to vote? After the Civil War · During Reconstruction …
  10. 99 Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s. Susan B. Anthony · Elizabeth Cady Stanton …

American History — Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

  1. 100 Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. World War I · World War II …
  2. 101 Why did the United States enter World War I? Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships · To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia) …
  3. 102 When did all women get the right to vote? 1920 · After World War I …
  4. 103 What was the Great Depression? Longest economic recession in modern history
  5. 104 When did the Great Depression start? The Great Crash (1929) · Stock market crash of 1929
  6. 105 Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II? (Franklin) Roosevelt
  7. 106 Why did the United States enter World War II? (Bombing of) Pearl Harbor · Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor …
  8. 107 Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one. General during World War II · President at the end of (during) the Korean War …
  9. 108 Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War? Soviet Union · USSR …
  10. 109 During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States? Communism · Nuclear war
  11. 110 Why did the United States enter the Korean War? To stop the spread of communism
  12. 111 Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War? To stop the spread of communism
  13. 112 What did the civil rights movement do? Fought to end racial discrimination
  14. 113 Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. ★ Fought for civil rights · Worked for equality for all Americans …
  15. 114 Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War? To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
  16. 115 What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? ★ Terrorists attacked the United States · Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City …
  17. 116 Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks. (Global) War on Terror · War in Afghanistan …
  18. 117 Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. Apache · Blackfeet …
  19. 118 Name one example of an American innovation. Light bulb · Automobile (cars, internal combustion engine) …

Symbols And Holidays — Symbols

  1. 119 What is the capital of the United States? Washington, D.C.
  2. 120 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).]
  3. 121 Why does the flag have 13 stripes? ★ (Because there were) 13 original colonies · (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
  4. 122 Why does the flag have 50 stars? (Because there is) one star for each state · (Because) each star represents a state …
  5. 123 What is the name of the national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner
  6. 124 The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean? Out of many, one · We all become one

Symbols And Holidays — Holidays

  1. 125 What is Independence Day? A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain) · The country’s birthday
  2. 126 Name three national U.S. holidays. ★ New Year’s Day · Martin Luther King, Jr. Day …
  3. 127 What is Memorial Day? A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
  4. 128 What is Veterans Day? A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military · A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)