65/20 civics questions, 2008 version

The 20 questions marked with an asterisk in the official 2008 list, for applicants aged 65 or older who have been permanent residents for 20 years or more.

Who can use this short list

USCIS gives special consideration to an applicant who, when filing Form N-400, is 65 years old or older and has lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years. Such applicants study only these 20 questions. The officer asks 10 of them, and 6 correct answers (60 percent) are a pass. The test may be taken in the language of your choice, with an interpreter. Both conditions must be met: age 65 and 20 years of permanent residence. Age alone is not enough.

The 65/20 list comes from the version of the test that your filing date gives you. If you filed before October 20, 2025, it is this list. If you filed on or after that date, use the 2025 version.

Hide the answers Practice these 20 Flashcards

The 20 questions

The numbers are the question numbers in the full official list.

1. 6 What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? 65/20

   • speech
   • religion
   • assembly
   • press
   • petition the government

   One answer is enough. The First Amendment protects five freedoms: speech, religion, assembly, press and petition.

2. 11 What is the economic system in the United States? 65/20

   • capitalist economy
   • market economy

   In a market economy, people and private businesses, not the government, decide what to make, buy and sell.

3. 13 Name one branch or part of the government. 65/20

   • Congress
   • legislative
   • President
   • executive
   • the courts
   • judicial

   One answer is enough. Each branch can be named by its title or by who is in it.

4. 17 What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? 65/20

   • the Senate and House (of Representatives)

   Congress has two chambers. A bill must pass both before it goes to the president.

5. 20 Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now? 65/20

   • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

   The answer depends on where you live. Look up your two senators on senate.gov shortly before your interview and learn one name. Where to find your answer.

6. 27 In what month do we vote for President? 65/20

   • November

   Election Day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every four years.

7. 28 What is the name of the President of the United States now? 65/20

   • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

   Give the name of the president serving on the day of your interview. USCIS lists the accepted answers on its test updates page. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

8. 44 What is the capital of your state? 65/20

   • 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.]

   The state capital is the city where your state government sits. It is often not the largest city. See our list of state capitals. Where to find your answer.

9. 45 What are the two major political parties in the United States? 65/20

   • Democratic and Republican

   Most elected officials belong to one of these two parties, though other parties exist.

10. 49 What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? 65/20

    • serve on a jury
    • vote in a federal election

    One answer is enough. Only citizens can be called for jury service and vote in federal elections.

11. 54 How old do citizens have to be to vote for President? 65/20

    • eighteen (18) and older

    The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, set the voting age at 18.

12. 56 When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? 65/20

    • April 15

    Federal income tax returns are normally due on April 15 each year.

13. 70 Who was the first President? 65/20

    • (George) Washington

    George Washington was president from 1789 to 1797.

14. 75 What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? 65/20

    • freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
    • saved (or preserved) the Union
    • led the United States during the Civil War

    Lincoln was the 16th president. He led the country through the Civil War and was killed in 1865.

15. 78 Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. 65/20

    • World War I
    • World War II
    • Korean War
    • Vietnam War
    • (Persian) Gulf War

    One answer is enough. Only wars between 1900 and 1999 count here.

16. 85 What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? 65/20

    • fought for civil rights
    • worked for equality for all Americans

    King led peaceful protests for equal rights. He was killed in 1968. A national holiday honours him in January.

17. 94 What is the capital of the United States? 65/20

    • Washington, D.C.

    Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not part of any state. Do not confuse it with Washington State.

18. 95 Where is the Statue of Liberty? 65/20

    • New York (Harbor)
    • Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

    The statue, a gift from France, has stood in New York Harbor since 1886.

19. 97 Why does the flag have 50 stars? 65/20

    • because there is one star for each state
    • because each star represents a state
    • because there are 50 states

    A star has been added for each new state. The 50th star, for Hawaii, was added in 1960.

20. 99 When do we celebrate Independence Day? 65/20

    • July 4

    The date marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Tips for this list

• Twenty questions can be learned in a week at three a day. Go over all of them aloud every day after that.
• 3 of the 20 have an answer that depends on who is in office or on your state. Look those up shortly before the interview: answers that change.
• If you will use an interpreter, practise with that person, so the questions sound familiar in your own language.
• Other exceptions for older applicants, 50/20 and 55/15, are about the English test. They are explained on the exceptions page.

Independent study site. Citizenship Test is not a government website and is not connected with USCIS or any agency. Questions and accepted answers are quoted from the official USCIS lists; the notes are ours. Rules were read on uscis.gov on 12 November 2026. Always confirm with uscis.gov/citizenship before your interview.