Do You Know Enough About U.S. Government To Pass a Citizenship Test?
Written by Beth Meberg
Last updated · 7 min play time
Test your knowledge of United States government with this quiz!
In order to earn citizenship in the United States, individuals must pass a civics exam that tests knowledge of the United States government. This quiz will test how well you know the government and political structure of the United States. If you score at least 60 percent on this quiz, it’s likely you would pass the U.S. citizenship test!
Quiz written by
Beth MebergU.S. Government Quiz Questions
30 Questions · 167.9K Plays · 6 Comments
Question 1
What document is the supreme law of the land in the United States?
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AThe Federalist Papers
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BU.S. Constitution
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CBill of Rights
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DDeclaration of Independence
U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution was signed by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. Currently, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest active federal constitution.
Question 2
What are the first three words of the U.S. Constitution?
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A“We the people…”
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B“We the rulers…”
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C“We the government…”
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D“We the majority…”
“We the people…”
The U.S. Constitution begins with three simple words, “We the people.” These three powerful words summarize the great American experiment and idea of self-government.
Question 3
What is an amendment?
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AA congressional speech
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BA change or addition to the U.S. Constitution
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CA branch of government
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DA Supreme Court verdict
A change or addition to the U.S. Constitution
An amendment is a change or addition to the U.S. Constitution. In order to ratify or approve an amendment, two-thirds of Congress must approve the proposal, and then three-fourths of states must confirm the change.
Question 4
How many amendments are there?
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A19
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B25
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C27
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D10
27
The U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments. The Bill of Rights, established in 1791, accounts for the first 10 changes. The additional 17 amendments occurred sporadically from 1795 to 1992.
Question 5
Which one of these rights is NOT protected by the First Amendment?
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ARight to bear arms
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BRight to peaceful assembly
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CFreedom of religion
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DRight to free speech
Right to bear arms
The First Amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms.
Question 6
What is the system of government in the United States?
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AAutocracy
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BMonarchy
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CDemocracy
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DOligarchy
Democracy
The United States was founded on the principles of democracy, meaning that any eligible citizen can serve as an elected official regardless of economic or social status. A federal republic features governance by elected officials as opposed to a king or queen as well as division of powers between the federal and state levels.
Question 7
What are the three branches of the United States federal government?
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ALegislative, State, Judicial
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BExecutive, Judicial, Press
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CJudicial, State, Press
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DExecutive, Legislative, Judicial
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
The United States government is made up of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. There are checks and balances in place to keep one branch of government from monopolizing power.
Question 8
Who is the leader of the United States government executive branch?
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AThe Supreme Court
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BThe Speaker of the House
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CThe President
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DCongress
The President
The president of the United States is the leader of the executive branch as well as the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. The primary check on presidential power is that he or she cannot make laws, but the individual does have the ability to veto a law passed by the legislative branch.
Question 9
What law-making body makes up the legislative branch?
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AHouse of Representatives
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BThe Supreme Court
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CUnited States Senate
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DCongress
Congress
The legislative branch, or United States Congress, is responsible for making laws. Every state is responsible for electing congressional members to represent its needs in the federal government.
Question 10
What is the highest federal court in the United States?
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AThe Supreme Court
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BThe Executive Court
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CThe Legislative Court
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DThe Judicial Court
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States judicial branch. Its members are tasked with interpreting laws made by Congress as well as checking the power of both the executive and legislative branches. Once the Supreme Court rules on a case, that remains the law of the land and only another Supreme Court ruling can change it.
Question 11
What are the two houses in Congress called?
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AThe Supreme Court and the Senate
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BThe House of Senators and the Representatives
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CThe Senate and the Legislature
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DThe House of Representatives and the Senate
The House of Representatives and the Senate
Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Congress is responsible for suggesting laws, which are known as bills. If a bill is approved by both houses, it is sent to the president to sign into law.
Question 12
How many senators are there in the United States Senate?
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A50
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B200
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C100
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D435
100
Each state has two senators for a total of 100, with the vice president acting as the president of the Senate. In addition to drafting and passing bills, the Senate is also responsible for approving any treaties or hired officials proposed by the president.
Question 13
How many representatives are there in the House of Representatives?
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A545
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B500
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C435
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D100
435
There are currently 435 members in the House of Representatives. The number of officials representing a state depends on that state’s population. Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau does a population count in the United States, which can result in some states losing or gaining representatives.
Question 14
Who elects the president of the United States?
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AThe U.S. Electoral College
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BThe U.S. Citizens
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CThe U.S. Supreme Court
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DThe U.S. Congress
The U.S. Electoral College
The U.S. Electoral College elects the president of the United States. The electorate is made up of 538 members determined by state population and was originally put in place as a compromise between a presidential election controlled solely by Congress or the popular vote. A candidate needs 270 votes to win the electoral college.
Question 15
What are "checks and balances"?
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ACombination of taxes
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BCombination of powers
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CSeparation of powers
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DSeparation of taxes
Separation of powers
Checks and balances are another way to describe the important separation of powers within the United States federal government. This deliberate structure prevents one branch from becoming too powerful and ultimately keeps each branch’s function totally separate. The one exception is the vice president as the president of the Senate, but he or she is only able to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Question 16
How long is one official term on the United States Senate?
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A4 years
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B6 years
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C8 years
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D2 years
6 years
United States senators serve six-year terms, and there is no limit to how many times an individual can be reelected. If a senator is unable to complete a term for whatever reason, a special election is held to replace that seat for the remainder of the term.
Question 17
How long is one term in the House of Representatives?
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A4 years
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B6 years
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C8 years
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D2 years
2 years
Members elected to the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. Just like the Senate, there are no reelection limits for representatives. The House of Representatives also has the sole power to impeach a select few elected officials, like the president or a federal judge.
Question 18
How long is one presidential term?
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A6 years
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B4 years
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C2 years
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D8 years
4 years
The president of the United States is elected to serve a four-year term. Unlike senators or representatives, the president can only serve two terms. While this started as an informal precedent, the 22nd Amendment adopted in 1951 made the term limit an official part of the U.S. Constitution.
Question 19
What are the eligibility requirements to run for president of the United States?
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ANatural-born U.S. citizen ONLY
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BAt least 35 years old ONLY
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CNatural-born U.S. citizen AND at least 35 years old
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DNatural-born U.S. citizen OR at least 45 years old
Natural-born U.S. citizen AND at least 35 years old
Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution establishes the requirements to run for president as, first, being a natural-born citizen of the United States and, second, being at least 35 years old. In the early years of American history, individuals who had been a permanent resident of the United States for at least 14 years were also eligible, but that provision is largely obsolete now.
Question 20
What month are the U.S. general elections held?
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AJanuary
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BSeptember
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CNovember
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DDecember
November
Election Day in the United States is the official day for the general elections of federal public offices. It occurs the first Tuesday following November 1st annually.
Question 21
Which responsibilities are only applicable to United States CITIZENS?
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AVote and volunteer work
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BVote and jury duty
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CVote and pay taxes
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DJury duty and pay taxes
Vote and jury duty
An individual must be a United States citizen to vote in any election or serve jury duty. Paying taxes and volunteer work are not dependent on citizenship.
Question 22
In order to vote in the United States, you must be a citizen and you must be at least this age.
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A35 years old
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B18 years old
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C21 years old
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D15 years old
18 years old
Per the 26th Amendment, a U.S. citizen must be at least 18 years old to vote in an election. Additionally, the right to vote must not be denied based on race or sex, as set forth by the 15th and 19th Amendments respectively.
Question 23
What are the two dominant political parties in the United States?
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ADemocrats and Federalists
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BRepublicans and Independents
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CDemocrats and Republicans
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DIndependents and Federalists
Democrats and Republicans
The modern political landscape in the United States features a two-party system dominated by the Democratic and Republican Parties. Since 1852, these two political parties have won every presidential election and left little room for third-party candidates.
Question 24
Who are the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
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AMilitary advisers
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BEducation advisers
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CJudicial advisers
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DTransportation advisers
Military advisers
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are uniformed leaders in the Department of Defense appointed by the president. They represent each branch, except the Coast Guard, of the military and advise the president and Secretary of Defense.
Question 25
Who assumes the office of the presidency if the elected president is unable to serve for any reason?
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AThe Speaker of the House
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BThe First Lady
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CThe Secretary of State
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DThe Vice President
The Vice President
The vice president is first in the presidential line of succession in the event the sitting president is to die or be removed from office. During American history, only nine vice presidents have become president during an existing term.
Question 26
Who assumes the office of the presidency if both the President and the Vice President are unable to serve for any reason?
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ASpeaker of the House
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BSecretary of State
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CFirst Lady
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DSecretary of Commerce
Speaker of the House
If both the President and the Vice President are unable to serve, the Speaker of the House assumes the role of President.
Question 27
Which of the following is NOT a cabinet position?
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ASecretary of Education
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BSecretary of Agriculture
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CGovernor of Law
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DSecretary of State
Governor of Law
The Cabinet of the United States is an array of about 15 top advisors to the president. While the positions are nominated by the president, the Senate holds a confirmation hearing to appoint the individuals to their positions officially.
Question 28
Which of the following is NOT a presidential power?
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ASign a bill into law
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BCommander in Chief of the military
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CIssue executive orders and pardons
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DDeclare war
Declare war
Due to the separation of powers, only Congress can officially declare war. However, the president is the Commander in Chief of the military. Additionally, the president can sign a bill into law and issue executive orders and pardons.
Question 29
How many justices sit on the Supreme Court?
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A8 justices
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B9 justices
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C10 justices
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D7 justices
9 justices
The Supreme Court is made up of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices for a total of nine judges. Supreme Court appointments are for life unless an individual retires or is impeached.
Question 30
What day is usually Tax Day in the United States?
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AApril 15
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BJanuary 15
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CSeptember 15
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DJune 15
April 15
Most years, Tax Day in the United States falls on April 15. This is the day when individual tax returns are due to the federal government.
Comments (6)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
77%.. not bad for a Canuck lol
80 per cent. Not bad for a non-American
@scv_nc. We have both!!
30/30! Never before even close to a perfect score. These are usually much more difficult!!
We do NOT have a Democracy, we have a Constitutional Republic!!
A fair quiz that makes you think.