Becoming a U.S. citizen is a proud milestone for millions of immigrants each year. One of the most important steps in this journey is passing the USCIS naturalization interview, which tests your knowledge of U.S. history, government, and your ability to read, write, and speak basic English.
The interview includes questions from your naturalization application (Form N-400), a civics test, and an English language test. The civics portion includes up to 10 questions selected from a list of 100 official questions, and you must answer at least six correctly to pass.
This blog provides a comprehensive list of the top 100 U.S. citizenship interview questions, organized by topic to help you study more effectively. Whether you are an applicant preparing for your own interview or helping someone else get ready, this guide is a reliable and easy-to-follow resource.
Target Audience
This blog is designed for anyone who wants to feel confident and well-prepared for the U.S. citizenship interview. It is especially helpful for:
- Green Card holders applying for naturalization and preparing for the USCIS interview
- First-time applicants who want to understand the interview format and common questions
- Family members and friends helping someone study for the test
- Citizenship tutors, ESL teachers, and immigration counselors who support naturalization candidates
- Non-native English speakers looking to practice simple interview English along with civics content
- Anyone interested in learning more about U.S. government, history, and civic duties
If you are preparing for your naturalization interview or helping someone else on their path to citizenship, this blog offers a complete set of questions and study tips to guide you.
Civics Test Questions
The civics portion of the U.S. citizenship interview tests your knowledge of the American government, history, and civic responsibilities. Below are foundational questions from the official list, along with simple and clear answers to help you prepare.
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution. The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the country. It outlines how the government works and guarantees basic rights for all citizens.
2. What does the Constitution do?
Answer: It sets up the government, defines the government, and protects basic rights of Americans.
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
Answer: “We the People.” These words show that the power of the government comes from the people.
4. What is an amendment?
Answer: An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution. Amendments are used to improve or update the Constitution over time.
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Answer: The Bill of Rights. These amendments protect fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and religion.
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Answer: Speech. (Other correct answers: religion, assembly, press, petition the government)
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Answer: Twenty-seven (27).
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Answer: It announced our independence from Great Britain. It also declared that the United States is free and no longer under British rule.
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Life and liberty. (Another correct answer: the pursuit of happiness)
10. What is freedom of religion?
Answer: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. This right ensures that the government does not force or prevent anyone from following a specific religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?
Answer: Capitalist economy. (You can also say: market economy.) The U.S. economy is based on private ownership and free markets.
12. What is the “rule of law”?
Answer: Everyone must follow the law. This includes leaders and government officials. No one is above the law.
13. Name one branch or part of the government.
Answer: Congress. (Other correct answers: legislative, executive, judicial, the President, the courts.)
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Answer: Checks and balances. (You can also say: separation of powers.)
These systems keep the government balanced.
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Answer: The President. The President enforces the laws of the country.
16. Who makes federal laws?
Answer: Congress. (You may also say: the Senate and House [of Representatives], the U.S. or national legislature.)
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer: The Senate and House of Representatives. This is also called the bicameral legislature.
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
Answer: One hundred (100). Each state has two Senators.
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: Six (6) years. Senators can be re-elected multiple times.
20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Answer: [The answer will vary by state.] To find your senator, visit: www.senate.gov
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Answer: Four hundred thirty-five (435). The number of representatives from each state is based on the state’s population.
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Answer: Two (2) years. Representatives serve shorter terms than senators.
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
Answer: [Answers will vary depending on your district. Find your representative at www.house.gov ]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
Answer: All people of the state. Each senator represents the entire population of their state, not just one district.
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Answer: Because of the state’s population. States with more people have more representatives.
26. We elect a President for how many years?
Answer: Four (4) years. Presidents may serve a maximum of two terms (8 years total).
27. In what month do we vote for President?
Answer: November. Presidential elections are held every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Answer: [Answers will vary. As of 2025, the President is Joe Biden.] (Confirm the current President at www.whitehouse.gov if needed.)
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Answer: [Answers will vary. As of 2025, the Vice President is Kamala Harris.]
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Answer: The Vice President. This is part of the presidential line of succession.
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Answer: The Speaker of the House. The Speaker is third in the line of succession.
32. Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the military?
Answer: The President. This means the President has authority over all branches of the U.S. armed forces.
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
Answer: The President. A bill passed by Congress must be signed by the President to become law.
34. Who vetoes bills?
Answer: The President. A veto sends the bill back to Congress for reconsideration.
35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Answer: Advises the President. Cabinet members are heads of federal departments, like Defense, State, and Education.
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Answer:
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Defense
(Other correct answers: Attorney General, Secretary of Education, etc.)
37. What does the judicial branch do?
Answer:
- Reviews laws
- Explains laws
- Resolves disputes
- Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
Answer: The Supreme Court. It has the final authority on questions of U.S. law and the Constitution.
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Answer: Nine (9). This includes one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Answer: [As of 2025, the Chief Justice is John Roberts.] (Check the current answer at www.supremecourt.gov for updates.)
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
Answer: To print money
(Other correct answers: to declare war, to create an army, to make treaties)
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Answer: Provide schooling and education (Other correct answers: provide protection, safety, issue driver’s licenses, approve zoning and land use)
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
Answer: [The answer will vary depending on your state. You can check at your state’s official website.]
44. What is the capital of your state?
Answer: [Answers will vary depending on your state. Example: Sacramento is the capital of California.]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Answer: Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
Answer: [As of 2025, the President, Joe Biden, is a Democrat.] (Check the current President’s political party if the leadership changes.)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Answer: [As of 2025, the Speaker is Mike Johnson. Check www.house.gov for the most up-to-date information.]
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Answer: Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote (Other correct answers: you do not have to pay to vote; any citizen can vote; a male citizen of any race can vote)
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Answer: Serve on a jury (You can also say: vote in a federal election)
50. Name one right only for United States citizens.
Answer: Vote in a federal election (Another correct answer: run for federal office)
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Answer:
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of religion
(Other correct answers include: freedom of expression, freedom to petition the government, the right to bear arms)
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Answer:
- The United States
- The flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Answer: Give up loyalty to other countries (Other correct answers: obey the laws of the United States, serve in the U.S. military if needed, be loyal to the U.S.)
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
Answer: Eighteen (18) and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Answer: Vote and Join a political party (Other options: write to a newspaper, call elected officials, run for office, publicly support or oppose an issue or policy)
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
Answer: April 15 (Note: The date may shift slightly if it falls on a weekend or holiday.)
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Answer: At age eighteen (18) (Men must register between ages 18 and 26)
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
Answer: Freedom (Other acceptable answers: political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, escape persecution)
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Answer: American Indians (You may also say: Native Americans)
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Answer: Africans (You may also say: people from Africa)
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
Answer: Because of high taxes (Other correct answers: because the British army stayed in their houses, because they didn’t have self-government)
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
Answer: July 4, 1776
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
Answer:
- New York
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
(Other options: New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
Answer: The Constitution was written (You may also say: the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution)
66. When was the Constitution written?
Answer: 1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
Answer: James Madison (Other correct answers: Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius)
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
Answer: U.S. diplomat (Other correct answers: oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General, writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” started the first free libraries)
69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
Answer: George Washington
70. Who was the first President?
Answer: George Washington
Tips to Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Interview
Preparing for the naturalization interview can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategy and consistent practice, you can build confidence and improve your chances of success. Below are practical and effective tips to help you get ready for every part of the interview.
1. Understand the Structure of the Interview
The U.S. citizenship interview typically includes three key parts:
- Civics Test – 10 questions based on U.S. history and government; you must answer at least 6 correctly.
- English Test – Includes reading, writing, and speaking components.
- Personal Interview – The officer will ask questions based on your Form N-400.
Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety and helps you prepare more efficiently.
2. Study All 100 Civics Questions
Although only 10 civics questions will be asked, they are selected from a list of 100 official questions. You need to answer at least 6 correctly to pass.
Tips:
- Break them into smaller topics (history, government, geography, etc.)
- Practice out loud or with flashcards
- Use USCIS practice materials or free apps with audio support
3. Practice Reading and Writing in English
The English test is basic, but you must show you can read and write simple sentences related to U.S. civics.
Tips:
- Learn and review commonly used words (e.g., “President,” “vote,” “flag”)
- Practice writing complete sentences like “George Washington was the first president.”
- Ask a friend or tutor to quiz you regularly
4. Review Your N-400 Application Thoroughly
The USCIS officer will ask questions about your background, family, travel history, and moral conduct—all based on the Form N-400 you submitted.
Tips:
- Read every part of your application before the interview
- Make sure your answers are consistent and honest
- Be prepared to explain trips abroad, taxes filed, or legal issues (if any)
5. Bring All Required Documents
Having the correct paperwork ensures the interview proceeds smoothly.
Common documents to bring:
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- State-issued ID (like a driver’s license)
- All current and expired passports
- Evidence of marriage/divorce (if applicable)
- Proof of taxes and selective service registration (if required)
- Any documents mentioned in your USCIS appointment notice
6. Speak Clearly and Stay Calm
You are not expected to speak perfect English, but the officer will evaluate your ability to communicate clearly.
Tips:
- Listen carefully and answer directly
- Ask politely if you do not understand a question
- Do not memorize answers for the personal portion—just be honest
7. Use USCIS-Approved Study Resources
There are many free resources to help you prepare:
- Official 100 Civics Questions PDF and Audio from USCIS
- Flashcards and mobile apps
- YouTube videos with mock interviews
- Study groups or community programs near you
Conclusion
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a proud and life-changing achievement. While the naturalization interview may seem challenging, proper preparation can make all the difference. By studying these Top 70 U.S. Citizenship Interview Questions, practicing your reading and writing skills, and reviewing your Form N-400 thoroughly, you will enter the interview with clarity and confidence.
Remember, the interview is not just a test—it is your opportunity to show your commitment to the United States and its values. Be honest, stay calm, and take time to understand the material, not just memorize it. With consistent practice and the right mindset, you are well on your way to achieving your goal of U.S. citizenship.
