To pass the U.S. citizenship test, applicants must score at least 60 percent on a test about U.S. history and civics. There are 100 potential questions, but only up to 10 questions will be asked in English during the interview.
About 1 million people immigrate to the U.S. legally every year, but to be eligible to become a citizen, a person must live in the U.S. with a green card for at least five years. A green card is like an indefinite stay visa that has its own long, difficult process to acquire.
While you can take an official online multiple choice practice test, the interview itself isnt multiple choice. The civics questions fall within these categories: Principles of American Democracy, System of Government, Rights and Responsibilities. The history questions fall within these categories: Colonial Period and Independence, 1800s, Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information, Geography, Symbols and Holidays. Here are some of the questions from the test. Can you get 60 percent of them correct?
Question 1
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
Answer
It mightve been a few years or decades since you covered this in history class, but the answer is We the People. The U.S. Constitution declares that its people chose to create their own government and will elect people to represent their interests.
Question 2
If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
Answer
Many people know the vice president is the second in line to the presidency, but whos third? That would be the speaker of the House. Another potential question on the test is, What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives now?That would be Republican Paul Ryan. The test could also ask you to name your states governor, your senator or your representative. Could you name them all?
Question 3
What is the last day you can send out federal income tax forms?
Answer
Many people know April is tax month, but what is the actual deadline? That would be April 15, unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday.
Question 4
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Answer
Its much easier to remember the number of U.S. senators since there are two for every state, making for 100 total. But what about representatives? That would be 435. Other potential questions are: We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? (6), We elect a U.S. representative for how many years? (2) and How many justices are on the Supreme Court? (9).
Question 5
When was the Constitution written?
Answer
While many American-born citizens know that the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776. But it wasnt until 1787 that the Constitution was written and signed at the Constitutional Convention.
Question 6
Who vetoes bills?
Answer
This question has the same answer as two other test questions about the way the U.S. government is organized: Who is the commander in chief of the military? and Who signs bills to become laws?That would be the president. There have been 2,574 presidential vetoes since 1789 but President Donald Trump has yet to use this executive power.
Question 7
What are two Cabinet-level
positions?
Answer
The presidents Cabinet is comprised of experts meant to advise the president on the affairs of the 15 executive departments. Aside from the vice president, the other members of the Cabinet are: Secretary 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 and the Attorney General.
Question 8
The citizenship test will also cover the basics of modern American history. One of the tests questions is, Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Answer
The answer is Germany, Italy and Japan, together known as the Axis powers. The United States and the Allied forces won the war in 1945.
