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System of Government: Citizenship Test Questions and Answers

The 2025 civics test has 47 questions about System of Government, numbers 16 to 62 on the official USCIS list. Each one below shows the accepted answers. Open a question for a plain-English explanation.

Practice System of Government questions See all 128 questions

  1. 16. Name the three branches of government.

    • Legislative
    • Executive
    • Judicial

  2. 17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

    • Executive branch

  3. 18. What part of the federal government writes laws?

    • (U.S.) Congress
    • U.S. legislature
    • National legislature
    • Legislative branch

  4. 19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

    • Senate and House of Representatives

  5. 20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

    • Writes laws
    • Declares war
    • Makes the federal budget

  6. 21. How many U.S. senators are there?

    • One hundred (100)

  7. 22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

    • Six (6) years

  8. 23. Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?

    Answer depends on where you live. See answers by state.

  9. 24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

    • Four hundred thirty-five (435)

  10. 25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

    • Two (2) years

  11. 26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

    • To more closely follow public opinion

  12. 27. How many senators does each state have?

    • Two (2)

  13. 28. Why does each state have two senators?

    • Equal representation for small states
    • The Great Compromise
    • Connecticut Compromise

  14. 29. Name your U.S. representative.

    Answer depends on where you live. See answers by state.

  15. 30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

    • The current Speaker of the House of Representatives

    As of May 26, 2026: Mike Johnson.

  16. 31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?

    • Citizens of their state
    • People of their state

  17. 32. Who elects U.S. senators?

    • Citizens from their state

  18. 33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

    • Citizens in their congressional district
    • Citizens in their district
    • People from their congressional district
    • People in their district

  19. 34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

    • Citizens from their congressional district

  20. 35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

    • Because of the state's population
    • Because they have more people
    • Because some states have more people

  21. 36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

    • Four (4) years

  22. 37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

    • Because of the 22nd Amendment
    • To keep the president from becoming too powerful

  23. 38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

    • The current President of the United States

    As of May 26, 2026: Donald J. Trump.

  24. 39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

    • The current Vice President of the United States

    As of May 26, 2026: JD Vance.

  25. 40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

    • The Vice President of the United States

  26. 41. Name one power of the president.

    • Signs bills into law
    • Vetoes bills
    • Enforces laws
    • Commander in Chief of the military
    • Chief diplomat
    • Appoints federal judges

  27. 42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

    • The President of the United States

  28. 43. Who signs bills to become laws?

    • The President of the United States

  29. 44. Who vetoes bills?

    • The President of the United States

  30. 45. Who appoints federal judges?

    • The President of the United States

  31. 46. The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

    • President of the United States
    • Cabinet
    • Federal departments and agencies

  32. 47. What does the President's Cabinet do?

    • Advises the President of the United States

  33. 48. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

    • Attorney General
    • 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
    • Secretary of War
    • Vice President
    • Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    • Administrator of the Small Business Administration
    • Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
    • Director of the Office of Management and Budget
    • Director of National Intelligence
    • United States Trade Representative

  34. 49. Why is the Electoral College important?

    • It decides who is elected president.
    • It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.

  35. 50. What is one part of the judicial branch?

    • Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts

  36. 51. What does the judicial branch do?

    • Reviews laws
    • Explains laws
    • Resolves disputes about the law
    • Decides if a law goes against the U.S. Constitution

  37. 52. What is the highest court in the United States?

    • Supreme Court

  38. 53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

    • Nine (9)

  39. 54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

    • Five (5)

  40. 55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

    • For life
    • Lifetime appointment
    • Until retirement

  41. 56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

    • To be independent of politics
    • To limit outside political influence

  42. 57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

    • The current Chief Justice of the United States

    As of May 26, 2026: John Roberts.

  43. 58. Name one power that is only for the federal government.

    • Print paper money
    • Mint coins
    • Declare war
    • Create an army
    • Make treaties
    • Set foreign policy

  44. 59. Name one power that is only for the states.

    • Provide schooling and education
    • Provide protection (police)
    • Provide safety (fire departments)
    • Give a driver's license
    • Approve zoning and land use

  45. 60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

    • Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

  46. 61. Who is the governor of your state now?

    Answer depends on where you live. See answers by state.

  47. 62. What is the capital of your state?

    Answer depends on where you live. See answers by state.

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