U.S. Citizenship Civics Test 2020 (short version)

If an applicant for citizenship is 65 years or older and has been a lawful resident of the U.S. for 20 years or more, this shorter civics test can be taken.

1.       What is the supreme law of the land?

(U.S.) Constitution

2.       How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

Twenty-seven (27)

3.       What is the economic system of the United States?

Capitalism

Free market economy

4.       Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

Writes laws

Declares war

Makes the federal budget

5.       What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

6.       The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

Four (4) years

7.       What is the name of the President of the United States now?

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

8.       What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.

9.       Who vetoes bills?

The President (of the United States)

10.   What is the highest court in the United States?

Supreme Court

11.   Who is the governor of your state now?

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]

12.   What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

The United States

The flag

13.   Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

American Indians

Native Americans

14.   Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

(Thomas) Jefferson

15.   George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

“Father of Our Country”

First president of the United States                                 

General of the Continental Army

President of the Constitutional Convention

16.   Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

Saved (or preserved) the Union

Led the United States during the Civil War

16th president of the United States

Delivered the Gettysburg Address

17.   Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.

Fought for civil rights

Worked for equality for all Americans

Worked to ensure that people would "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"

18.   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

Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia

Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania

19.   Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

(Because there were) 13 original colonies

(Because the stripes) represent the original colonies

20.   Name three national U.S. holidays.

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day