New Naturalization Test

Select '>' to see answers, then uncheck boxes when incorrect.

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

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A: The Constitution

2. What does the Constitution do?
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A: sets up the government
A: defines the government
A: protects basic rights of Americans

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
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A: We the People

4. What is an amendment?
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A: a change (to the Constitution)
A: an addition (to the Constitution)

5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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A: The Bill of Rights

6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
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A: speech
A: religion
A: assembly
A: press
A: petition the government

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
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A: twenty-seven (27)

8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
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A: announced our independence (from Great Britain)
A: declared our independence (from Great Britain)
A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
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A: life
A: liberty
A: pursuit of happiness

10. What is freedom of religion?
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A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
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A: capitalist economy
A: market economy

12. What is the "rule of law"?
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A: Everyone must follow the law.
A: Leaders must obey the law.
A: Government must obey the law.
A: No one is above the law.

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
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A: Congress
A: legislative
A: President
A: executive
A: the courts
A: judicial

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
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A: checks and balances
A: separation of powers

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
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A: the President

16. Who makes federal laws?
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A: Congress
A: Senate and House (of Representatives)
A: (U.S. or national) legislature

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
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A: the Senate and House (of Representatives)

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
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A: one hundred (100)

19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
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20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?*
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A: California Barbara Boxer & Dianne Feinstein. Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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A: four hundred thirty-five (435)

22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
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23. Name your U.S. Representative.
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A: 30th Congressional District (western Los Angeles) is Henry Waxman. Answers will vary.

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
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A: all people of the state

25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
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A: (because of) the state's population
A: (because) they have more people
A: (because) some states have more people

26. We elect a President for how many years?
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27. In what month do we vote for President?*
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28. What is the name of the President of the United Statesnow?*
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A: Barack Obama
A: Obama

29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
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A: Joseph Biden
A: Joe Biden
A: Biden

30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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A: the Vice President

31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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A: the Speaker of the House

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
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A: the President

33. Who signs bills to become laws?
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A: the President

34. Who vetoes bills?
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A: the President

35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
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A: advises the President

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
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A: Secretary of Agriculture
A: Secretary of Commerce
A: Secretary of Defense
A: Secretary of Education
A: Secretary of Energy
A: Secretary of Health and Human Services
A: Secretary of Homeland Security
A: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
A: Secretary of Interior
A: Secretary of State
A: Secretary of Transportation
A: Secretary of Treasury
A: Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
A: Secretary of Labor
A: Attorney General

37. does the judicial branch do?
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A: reviews laws
A: explains laws
A: resolves disputes (disagreements)
A: decides if a law goes against the Constitution

38. What is the highest court in the United States?
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A: the Supreme Court

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
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40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
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A: John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
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A: to print money
A: to declare war
A: to create an army
A: to make treaties

42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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A: provide schooling and education
A: provide protection (police)
A: provide safety (fire departments)
A: give a driver's license
A: approve zoning and land use

43. Who is the Governor of your state?
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A: California = Arnold Schwarzenegger

Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor."]

44. What is the capital of your state?*
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A: California = Sactramento.

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]

45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
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A: Democratic and Republican

46. What is the political party of the President now?
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A: Democratic (Party)

47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
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A: (Nancy) Pelosi

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
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A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
A: You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
A: Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A: A male citizen of any race (can vote).

49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
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A: serve on a jury
A: vote

50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
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A: apply for a federal job
A: vote
A: run for office
A: carry a U.S. passport

51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
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A: freedom of expression
A: freedom of speech
A: freedom of assembly
A: freedom to petition the government
A: freedom of worship
A: the right to bear arms

52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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A: the United States
A: the flag

53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
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A: give up loyalty to other countries
A: defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
A: obey the laws of the United States
A: serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
A: serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
A: be loyal to the United States

54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
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A: eighteen (18) and older

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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A: vote
A: join a political party
A: help with a campaign
A: join a civic group
A: join a community group
A: give an elected official your opinion on an issue
A: call Senators and Representatives
A: publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
A: run for office
A: write to a newspaper

56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
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57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
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A: at age eighteen (18)
A: between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
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A: freedom
A: political liberty
A: religious freedom
A: economic opportunity
A: practice their religion
A: escape persecution

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
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A: Native Americans
A: American Indians

60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
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A: Africans
A: people from Africa

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
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A: because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
A: because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
A: because they didn't have self-government

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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A: (Thomas) Jefferson

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
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A: July 4, 1776

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
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A: New Hampshire
A: Massachusetts
A: Rhode Island
A: Connecticut
A: New York
A: New Jersey
A: Pennsylvania
A: Delaware
A: Maryland
A: Virginia
A: North Carolina
A: South Carolina
A: Georgia

65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
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A: The Constitution was written.
A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

66. When was the Constitution written?
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67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of theU.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
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A: (James) Madison
A: (Alexander) Hamilton
A: (John) Jay
A: Publius

68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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A: U.S. diplomat
A: oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
A: first Postmaster General of the United States
A: writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
A: started the first free libraries

69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
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A: (George) Washington

70. Who was the first President?*
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A: (George) Washington

71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
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A: the Louisiana Territory
A: Louisiana

72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
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A: War of 1812
A: Mexican-American War
A: Civil War
A: Spanish-American War

73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
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A: the Civil War
A: the War between the States

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
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A: slavery
A: economic reasons
A: states' rights

75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
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A: freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
A: saved (or preserved) the Union
A: led the United States during the Civil War

76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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A: freed the slaves
A: freed slaves in the Confederacy
A: freed slaves in the Confederate states
A: freed slaves in most Southern states

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
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A: fought for women's rights
A: fought for civil rights

78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
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A: World War I
A: World War II
A: Korean War
A: Vietnam War
A: (Persian) Gulf War

79. Who was President during World War I?
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A: (Woodrow) Wilson

80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
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A: (Franklin) Roosevelt

81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
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A: Japan, Germany and Italy

82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
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A: World War II

83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
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84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
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A: civil rights (movement)

85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
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A: fought for civil rights
A: worked for equality for all Americans

86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
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A: Terrorists attacked the United States.

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
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A: Cherokee
A: Navajo
A: Sioux
A: Chippewa
A: Choctaw
A: Pueblo
A: Apache
A: Iroquois
A: Creek
A: Blackfeet
A: Seminole
A: Cheyenne
A: Arawak
A: Shawnee
A: Mohegan
A: Huron
A: Oneida
A: Lakota
A: Crow
A: Teton
A: Hopi
A: Inuit

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
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A: Missouri (River)
A: Mississippi (River)

89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
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A: Pacific (Ocean)

90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
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A: Atlantic (Ocean)

91. Name one U.S. territory.
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A: Puerto Rico
A: U.S. Virgin Islands
A: American Samoa
A: Northern Mariana Islands
A: Guam

92. Name one state that borders Canada.
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A: Maine
A: New Hampshire
A: Vermont
A: New York
A: Pennsylvania
A: Ohio
A: Michigan
A: Minnesota
A: North Dakota
A: Montana
A: Idaho
A: Washington
A: Alaska

93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
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A: California
A: Arizona
A: New Mexico
A: Texas

94. What is the capital of the United States?*
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A: Washington, D.C.

95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
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A: New York (Harbor)
A: Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
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A: because there were 13 original colonies
A: because the stripes represent the original colonies

97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
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A: because there is one star for each state
A: because each star represents a state
A: because there are 50 states

98. What is the name of the national anthem?
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A: The Star-Spangled Banner

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
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100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
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A: New Year's Day
A: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
A: Presidents' Day
A: Memorial Day
A: Independence Day
A: Labor Day
A: Columbus Day
A: Veterans Day
A: Thanksgiving
A: Christmas

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