Naturalization Test (2008) - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Questions & Answers

1. What is the supreme law of the land? - ANSWERSthe Constitution 2. What does the Constitution do? - ANSWERSsets up the government ▪ defines the government ▪ protects basic rights of Americans 3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? - ANSWERSWe the People 4. What is an amendment? - ANSWERSa change [to the Constitution] ▪ an addition [to the Constitution] 5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? - ANSWERSthe Bill of Rights 6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* - ANSWERSspeech ▪ religion ▪ assembly ▪ press ▪ petition the government 7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? - ANSWERStwenty-seven (27) 8. What did the Declaration of Independence do? - ANSWERSannounced our independence [from Great Britain] ▪ declared our independence [from Great Britain] ▪ said that the United States is free [from Great Britain] 9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? - ANSWERSlife ▪ liberty ▪ pursuit of happiness 10. What is freedom of religion? - ANSWERSYou can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. 11. What is the economic system in the United States?* - ANSWERScapitalist economy ▪ market economy 12. What is the "rule of law"? - ANSWERSEveryone must follow the law. ▪ Leaders must obey the law. ▪ Government must obey the law. ▪ No one is above the law. 13. Name one branch or part of the government.* - ANSWERSCongress ▪ legislative ▪ President ▪ executive ▪ the courts ▪ judicial 14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? - ANSWERSchecks and balances ▪ separation of powers 15. Who is in charge of the executive branch? - ANSWERSthe President 16. Who makes federal laws? - ANSWERSCongress ▪ Senate and House of Representatives ▪ U.S. or national legislature 17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* - ANSWERSthe Senate and House of Representatives 18. How many U.S. Senators are there? - ANSWERSone hundred (100) 19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? - ANSWERSsix (6) 20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?* - ANSWERSAnswers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.] Look it up here: 21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? - ANSWERSfour hundred thirty-five (435) 22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? - ANSWERStwo (2) 23. Name your U.S. Representative. - ANSWERSAnswers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no [voting] Representatives in Congress.] Look it up: Visit to find your U.S. Representative. 24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent? - ANSWERSall people of the state 25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? - ANSWERS[because of] the state's population ▪ [because] they have more people ▪ [because] some states have more people 26. We elect a President for how many years? - ANSWERSfour (4) 27. In what month do we vote for President?* - ANSWERSNovember 28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?* - ANSWERSVisit 29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? - ANSWERSVisit 30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? - ANSWERSthe Vice President 31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? - ANSWERSthe Speaker of the House 32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? - ANSWERSthe President 33. Who signs bills to become laws? - ANSWERSthe President 34. Who vetoes bills? - ANSWERSthe President 35. What does the President's Cabinet do? - ANSWERSadvises the President 36. What are two Cabinet-level positions? - ANSWERSSecretary of Agriculture ▪ Secretary of Commerce ▪ Secretary of Defense ▪ Secretary of Education ▪ Secretary of Energy ▪ Secretary of Health and Human Services ▪ Secretary of Homeland Security ▪ Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ▪ Secretary of the Interior ▪ Secretary of Labor ▪ Secretary of State ▪ Secretary of Transportation ▪ Secretary of the Treasury ▪ Secretary of Veterans Affairs ▪ Attorney General ▪ Vice President 37. What does the judicial branch do? - ANSWERSreviews laws ▪ explains laws ▪ resolves disputes {disagreements} ▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution 38. What is the highest court in the United States? - ANSWERSthe Supreme Court 39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? - ANSWERSVisit 40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? - ANSWERSVisit 41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? - ANSWERSto print money ▪ 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? - ANSWERSprovide schooling and education ▪ provide protection [police] ▪ provide safety [fire departments] ▪ give a driver's license ▪ approve zoning and land use