Applying for and acquiring United States citizenship is no easy feat.
Before taking the oath of allegiance, aspiring Americans must navigate a rigorous process, including the daunting naturalization test.
The civics section of the test assesses applicants’ knowledge of US history and government.
Each potential citizen faces 10 randomly selected questions from an official list of 100- and they must answer at least six correctly to pass.
So, how well do you know American civics?
The Houston Chronicle pulled 10 real questions from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) study guide.
Think you could ace it? Take the quiz below and test your knowledge!
1. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
Answer:
B) The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, guarantees fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion and due process.
It was added to the Constitution by the Founders to address concerns about individual liberties.
2. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Answer:
C) The Speaker of the House
The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 places the Speaker of the House next in line after the Vice President.
This ensures a clear transition of power in case of emergencies.
3. What is one responsibility that is reserved only for United States citizens?
Answer:
A) Serve on a jury
Being a jury member is a civic duty exclusive to US citizens.
This is meant to ensure the right to a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution.
4. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer:
C) Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
He drafted the document in 1776 to justify the American colonies’ separation from Britain.
5. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Answer: D) Louisiana
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the US.
It occurred when President Thomas Jefferson bought the land from France for $15 million.
6. Who was President during World War I?
Answer: A) Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson led the US through World War I.
He also advocated for the League of Nations, though the US never ended up joining.
7. What is the capital of the United States?
Answer: D) Washington, DC
Washington, DC became the US capital in 1800.
It was part of a compromise between Northern and Southern states at the time.
8. What is the name of the national anthem?
Answer: B) The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key wrote ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in 1814.
He wrote it after witnessing the British attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
9. When do we celebrate Independence Day?
Answer: B) July 4
July 4, 1776, marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
It is the day that marks the colonies’ break from British rule.
10. How many US Senators are there?
Answer:
C) 100
Each state has two senators, with a total of 100.
This structure ensures equal representation for all states in the Senate.
If you got at least six right, congratulations – you passed!
But if not, you might need to hit the books before trying your luck at US citizenship.