Can You Get 11 Right on This Practice U.S. Citizenship Test?

By: Jonnathan Chadwick
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Get 11 Right on This Practice U.S. Citizenship Test?
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About This Quiz

Anyone 18 and older who has lived in America for at least five years can become a U.S. citizen. You just have to be able to understand basic English, know the basics about the country and complete all the necessary steps. One of the steps is an interview that consists of an English and civics test. You will need to know about the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, "The Star-Spangled Banner," America's wars, America's people and America's government. 

Knowing who the first president of the United States was or what the significance of July Fourth is might sound easy, but if you're not from America, it's a lot of information to learn. Do you know the first president of any other country? Do you know what day Canadian or Mexican Independence Day is? Luckily for you, you only need to know American civics for this quiz, but even if you were born and raised in America, it doesn't mean this is going to be a breeze. 

Can you remember when the U.S. Constitution or Declaration of Independence was written? Do you know when they were ratified? Who wrote them and why they were needed? The most American of Americans can easily answer all of these questions. How will you do? Put your knowledge of America to the test.

The 50 stars on the American Flag represent the 50 states. What do the 13 stripes represent?
The first 13 presidents
The original 13 colonies
The first 13 years of the nation
The last 13 battles of the American Revolution
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American Flag has been redesigned 27 times, and the current design was created in 1959 after Hawaii became the 50th state. The 13 stripes on the flag have always, and still do, represent the original 13 colonies. The stars represent the states.

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Every U.S. president since 1853 has been a member of one of what two political parties?
Whig and Federalist
Democrat and Republican
Know-Nothings and Free Soil
Independent and Libertarian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

America is run on a two-party political system dominated by the Democrat and Republican parties. George Washington wasn't affiliated with any party, and the first Democrat or Republican president was Thomas Jefferson, who was a Democrat-Republican.

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There are 10 federal holidays in America. Which of the following is not one of them?
Christmas
Thanksgiving
New Year's Day
Halloween
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As fun as it may be to dress up and party, Halloween is not a national holiday and you will not get the day off from work to celebrate. All federal offices and banks are closed during the 10 federal holidays in America.

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The U.S. military is made up of the Army, Navy, Air Force and more. Who is its Commander in Chief?
President of the United States
David Petraeus
Stanley A. McChrystal
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The president of the United States is also the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military, as stated by Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The president assumes the role without attaining any military rank. The governor is the commander of his or her state's National Guard and militia.

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America is home to more than 2,500 historic landmarks. Where is the United States Capitol Building located?
New York City
Philadelphia
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New York City is actually home to the most historic landmarks in the country with more than 100, but one of the 70+ historic landmarks in Washington, D.C. is the U.S. Capitol Building, which is home to the U.S. Congress.

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America is a country founded on protest and revolution. Which of these protests sparked the American Revolution?
Lager Beer Riot
Bloody Monday
March on Washington
Boston Tea Party
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The British king imported and sold tea to the colonies without paying taxes, then turned around and taxed the colonists. A lot of people thought the treatment was unfair and decided to protest by sabotaging an incoming shipment of tea. The event was called the Boston Tea Party.

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Which of the following is not protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
Freedom of speech
Freedom of corporation
Freedom of the press
Freedom of religion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is no such thing as "Freedom of Corporation" although some recent Supreme Court rulings have awarded individual rights to corporations. The First Amendment to the Constitution is the most powerful law in the country and it protects many things.

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In what deal did Thomas Jefferson buy half a billion acres of land from Napoleon for $15 million?
The Treaty of Tordesillas
Gadsden Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase
Purchase of Manhattan Island
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thomas Jefferson considered the Louisiana Purchase to be his greatest accomplishment as president. The purchase provided land for 15 U.S. states, including all of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

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How old do you have to be to vote?
15
16
18
21
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before WWII, most states required citizens to be at least 21 years old in order to vote, but by 1968, many states lowered the age to 18. In 1971 the states ratified the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which set the voting age at 18.

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There are hundreds of congressmen and women in America. How are seats in the House of Representatives allocated?
By secret formula
By land size
By population
By coin toss
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American congressional seats are allocated based on state populations. California has 53 representatives and places like Alaska, Wyoming and North Dakota have one congressional representative. There are 435 congressional districts, which is a ratio of about one representative per 700,000 citizens.

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Government power is split between the federal and state government. Which of the following is a power of the state?
Providing schooling and education
Printing money
Creating armies
Declaring war
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Education is a state responsibility and public education varies widely from community to community. The schooling system is a combination of state, local and private initiatives and the federal government contributes about 10% of costs.

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There are 16 members of the president's Cabinet. Which of the following is not a Cabinet position?
Vice President
Secretary of Labor
Attorney General
Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mayor of D.C. is not part of the president's Cabinet, which is made up of the vice president and 15 leaders of executive departments like Energy, Labor and Transportation. George Washington established the practice of creating a presidential Cabinet.

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The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. When was it ratified?
October 31, 1787
December 25, 1791
July 4, 1776
January 1, 1800
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Adams wrote to his wife that July 2 would be the most memorable day in history. He didn't take into account the editing process. The exact wording of the Declaration wasn't approved until July 4, and that's also when it was ratified.

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The U.S. has been involved in several wars since its beginning. Who was president during the Civil War?
Teddy Roosevelt
Andrew Jackson
James Monroe
Abraham Lincoln
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Southern plantation owners were well aware of Abraham Lincoln's anti-slavery stance before he became president, and the second he did, several Southern states seceded from the Union. The Civil War started barely a month after Lincoln took office.

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In which of these centuries was the United States not at war?
1700s
1800s
1900s
None
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The United States was founded on war and since its creation in 1776, the country has been at war about 95% of the time. We were in at least four wars during the 1800s, five during the 1900s and we've been in the Afghanistan War from 2001 to present day. Not all of these were officially declared wars.

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The three branches of government are the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branch. What branch is the U.S. Senate part of?
Judicial
Legislative
Executive
Agriculture
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. Senate, along with the House of Representatives, is part of the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government. It is the branch of the government that writes legislation. The Senate has to approve any legislation proposed by the House.

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The Legislative Branch of the U.S. government makes laws. The Executive Branch enacts laws. What does the Judicial Branch do?
Manage the Treasury
Appoint police officers
Review laws
Judge people
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Judicial Branch is comprised of the Supreme Court and all the federal courts in the land. The Supreme Court is tasked with reviewing laws that are created by the Legislative Branch and enacted by the Executive Branch to ensure they are constitutional.

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You need to be at least 21 years old to legally buy alcohol. How old do you need to be to become president of the United States?
21
42
35
18
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. Constitution sets forth the requirements for U.S. presidents. In order to be president one must be a "natural-born" U.S. citizen, be at least 35 years old and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

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How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
30
27
35
50
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The first 10 are the Bill of Rights and the 27th was ratified in 1992. It regulates the pay for members of Congress and was actually proposed in 1789. If it was ratified back then, it would've been part of the Bill of Rights.

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In what U.S. city did a massive bus boycott help spark the Civil Rights movement?
Little Rock, Arkansas
Detroit, Michigan
Montgomery, Alabama
Jackson, Mississippi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted more than a year from 1955 to 1956 and was one of the most successful protests in U.S. history. Black bus riders who were forced to sit in the back of the bus stopped riding public transportation until the racist rules were lifted.

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Slavery was a major economic factor in the development of America. What amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery?
22nd Amendment
13th Amendment
17th Amendment
Third Amendment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln ordered the Emancipation Proclamation, which did not abolish slavery but freed enslaved persons being held in rebellious states. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery. It passed the Senate in 1864 and was ratified in 1865.

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According to the Declaration of Independence, all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Which is not one of those rights?
Freedom of speech
Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Declaration of Independence declared that "all men are created equal" and are endowed certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom of speech is not an unalienable right, but it is a constitutional right.

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What is observed on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of every November?
Election Day
All Saints Day
Veterans Day
Columbus Day
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is an election for something every year, but the U.S. Presidential Election takes place only once every four years. There are many statewide positions up for election every year, and Senate elections are scattered, so different states hold Senate elections on different years.

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One presidential term is four years long. Which of these officials serves the longest single term?
Representative
Vice president
Senator
Governor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Senators serve six-year terms, which are the longest single term of any politician. Governor term lengths vary by state and many states don't have any term limits for governor. Supreme Court Justices serve for life and current justice Clarence Thomas has been on the bench for more than 27 years.

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If the president of the United States can no longer serve, the vice president assumes duties. Who takes over if the vice president can no longer serve?
Secretary of State
Speaker of the House
Chief of Staff
Director of National Intelligence
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The speaker of the House of Representatives is the next in line to succeed the presidency after the vice president. The speaker is elected by members of the House and is the leader of the majority party in the House.

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Each U.S. state is allocated two U.S. Senate seats. How many senators come from Washington, D.C.?
3
2
1
0
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Washington, D.C. is the capital of America but is not one of the 50 states, so it does not have any senators. States are allocated electoral votes based on number of senators and districts within the state, and since D.C. has neither, it is allocated the minimum, which is three electoral votes.

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The first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. What right does the Eighth Amendment protect?
Right to bear arms
Protection against unlawful search
Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
Right to a speedy trial
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Eighth Amendment protects citizens against excessive bail or fines but doesn't define the word "excessive." It also protects against cruel and unusual punishment, and the "cruel and unusual" clause is the most debated section of the amendment.

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What is the official language of America?
English
Spanish
Native American
There isn't one.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is no official language of the country. There are close to 330 million people in America and about 230 million Americans call English their primary language. There are about 40 million Spanish speakers in the country and a few million Chinese speakers.

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Presidential term limits weren't added to the U.S. Constitution until 1951. How many years was George Washington president?
5 years
8 years
10 years
12 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most important things George Washington may have done while president of the United States was to establish the practice of term limits and selecting a Cabinet. Although limits weren't regulated, he chose to only serve eight years, which set a standard.

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The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. What was the country's governing document before the Constitution?
Bill of Rights
Articles of Confederation
The Federalist Papers
Magna Carta
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781 and were replaced by the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. The goal of the Articles was to unite the states, and although it did, it created such a weak national government it had to be changed eventually.

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How many Supreme Court justices are there?
7
13
12
9
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are nine Supreme Court justices who vote on the highest issues in the land. There are nine of them so they can't reach a tie. Each of them was nominated by the president and then approved by the Senate.

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Jamestown Colony became the first permanent establishment in 1607. Which of the following was not one of the original 13 colonies?
Georgia
West Virginia
New York
Massachusetts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 13 colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. West Virginia didn't become a state until 1853.

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The Federalist Papers consists of 85 articles and essays that argue for the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Who was not one of its authors?
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
James Madison
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Federalist Papers were written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, and Jay used the pseudonym Publius on some articles. The collection of essays and articles argued for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and were integral to the document's passage.

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Native American chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn. What Native American tribe were they part of?
Lakota
Cherokee
Sioux
Pueblo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before Amerigo Vespucci discovered America, Christopher Columbus did. Before Columbus discovered America, Leif Erikson did. Before Erikson discovered America, it's unknown who did, but we do know Native Americans were here long before us.

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The "Father of the U.S. Constitution" was James Madison. When was the U.S. Constitution written?
1776
1781
1780
1787
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. Constitution was hotly debated for years before finally becoming active. It was drafted in 1787, ratified in 1788 and enacted in 1789. Delaware was the first state to approve the document and Rhode Island was the last.

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