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CITIZENSHIP TEST
It is a privilege being a citizen of the United States of America. If you are not born a citizen (that
is, born on American soil or in American territory or of American parents [there are other legal
definitions of American by birth]), you could ultimately find yourself in the position of having to
seek citizenship.

There are many conditions one must fulfill to become a citizen (including submitting a police
record from every country you have lived in for more than six months, having held a Green Card
for five years, submitting medical records, and paying a sum of $680 per family member [there
are some exceptions to these requirements]). You may have to go back to your country of birth
in order to process all the paperwork (which of course will incur additional money for flight fares
and possibly accommodation fees too).

Some countries allow dual-citizenship. That is, you can retain your passport and citizenship of
your country of birth AS WELL AS having American citizenship. Some countries do not allow
this. America does not care if you retain your native passport.

In addition to the above, you will also need to take a Naturalization Test. The test is below. At
your Naturalization Interview, which could require some distance in travel thus you will need
transportation (and money of course). For our area, the Citizenship Interview is in Hartford,
and, if you are successful, you will attend a Naturalization Ceremony in Bridgeport (again
requiring transportation and thus money).

You might also require a lawyer to help process all the paperwork (it is very complicated,
although not as complicated as the paperwork required for a Green Card). Again, this will incur
expenses.

There are one-hundred questions to study for, which form part of the Naturalization Test. At
your interview you will be asked ten questions (of the one-hundred). You need to answer SIX of
these ten correctly. In addition to answering the questions, you will have your application form
gone over with a fine tooth comb and you will be asked to repeat details that you have
painstakingly filled in.

Below are the 100 questions. Your teacher will now ask you some of these.
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Think as you answer these questions. Those who most often find themselves having to answer
these questions have lived outside of the United States most of their lives AND have English as
a second language (or little to no English language skills at all). YES, the test is in ENGLISH,
[although there are some exceptions, often based on age]. You will also have to write
something in English. Mrs McGovern had to write (and I will never forget) I have a pink
bicycle.

Think, also, that many of those taking this test are DESPERATE to be an American citizen,
many having fled violence, persecution, and poverty in their country of birth. This is a nerve
wracking experience.

Finally, think about the fact that all would-be American citizens will have to vow that they will
take up arms against their country of birth should America go to war with that country (the
country where he/she might have left behind many friends and family) and also, many would-be
American citizens will have to surrender their native passport if successful in gaining citizenship
of this country. These are very emotional decisions to have to make. Giving up ones native
passport might lead to permanent separation from loved ones.

SCROLL DOWN TO QUESTIONS.

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Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test

* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years,
you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.

www.uscis.gov
(rev. 03/11)

The 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers for the naturalization test are
listed below. The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS Officer will ask the applicant up to 10
of the 100 civics questions. An applicant must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the
civics portion of the naturalization test.

On the naturalization test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. As
you study for the test, make sure that you know the most current answers to these questions.
Answer these questions with the name of the official who is serving at the time of your eligibility
interview with USCIS. The USCIS Officer will not accept an incorrect answer.

Although USCIS is aware that there may be additional correct answers to the 100 civics
questions, applicants are encouraged to respond to the civics questions with the
answers detailed in the Study Guide.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

A: Principles of American Democracy

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

The constitution and the laws of the United States

2. What does the Constitution do?

The U.S. Constitution established Americas national government and fundamental

laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens.

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

We the people

4. What is an amendment?
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An article added to the Constitution

B: System of Government

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*

Executive Branch

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

The system of checks and balances prevents one branch of government from
becoming too powerful.

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

The President

16. Who makes federal laws?

Laws get passed through all the branches. But congress makes the laws.

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

House of Representatives and the US Senate

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

100 members

31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes
President?

Speaker of the House

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

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The President

41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one
power of the

Declaring war

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

Dannel Malloy

44. What is the capital of your state?*

Hartford, CT

C: Rights and Responsibilities

51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

freedom of religion and freedom of speech

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

We show loyalty to the United States of America.

53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Defend the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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AMERICAN HISTORY

A: Colonial Period and Independence

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

Religious freedom

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

High taxes and didnt have self government

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson, BEnjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman (etc.)

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

Delaware, Connecticut, New York

69. Who is the Father of Our Country?

George Washington

70. Who was the first President?*

George Washingtton

B: 1800s

71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana

72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

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

American Civil War

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

Slavery

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Organized National Woman Suffrage Association

C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

World War I

83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

That the Soviet Union would obtain control of the Western European countries through
either invasions or by communist takeovers of unstable governments.

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

civil rights movement

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

Navajo
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INTEGRATED CIVICS

A: Geography

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

Mississippi river

89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

North Pacific Ocean

90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

Atlantic Ocean

91. Name one U.S. territory.

Puerto Rico

B: Symbols

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

it relates to the first 13 colonies that declared independence from england

97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*

for each state

98. What is the name of the national anthem?

star spangled banner

SCORE /40
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