2008 civics test: System of government

Questions 13 to 47 of the official 2008 list, with every accepted answer and a short note on each.

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With 35 questions this is the largest part of the 2008 list. It covers the three branches, Congress, the president, the courts and the powers of the states. Ten of these questions have answers that are not printed in the list because they depend on who is in office or where you live. USCIS publishes the current answers for the national offices on its test updates page. For your senators, representative and governor you must look them up for your own state.

1. 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.

2. 14 What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

   • checks and balances
   • separation of powers

   Power is divided among three branches so that each can limit the others. This is called checks and balances.

3. 15 Who is in charge of the executive branch?

   • the President

   The executive branch carries out and enforces the laws. The president is its head.

4. 16 Who makes federal laws?

   • Congress
   • Senate and House (of Representatives)
   • (U.S. or national) legislature

   Congress is the legislative branch. Only Congress can write federal laws.

5. 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.

6. 18 How many U.S. Senators are there?

   • one hundred (100)

   Each of the 50 states has two senators: 50 times 2 is 100.

7. 19 We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

   • six (6)

   Senate terms are staggered, so about one third of the Senate is elected every two years.

8. 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.

9. 21 The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

   • four hundred thirty-five (435)

   The number has been fixed by law at 435 for over a century. Seats are shared among the states by population.

10. 22 We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

    • two (2)

    All 435 seats are up for election every two years, in even-numbered years.

11. 23 Name your U.S. Representative.

    • Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]

    The answer depends on your address. Find your representative on house.gov by entering your ZIP code. Where to find your answer.

12. 24 Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

    • all people of the state

    A senator speaks for everyone in the whole state, not one district.

13. 25 Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

    • (because of) the state’ s population
    • (because) they have more people
    • (because) some states have more people

    Seats in the House follow population, counted in the census every ten years. States with more people get more seats.

14. 26 We elect a President for how many years?

    • four (4)

    Presidential elections are held every four years, in November.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 29 What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

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

    Give the name of the vice president serving on the day of your interview. Check the USCIS test updates page. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

18. 30 If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

    • the Vice President

    The vice president is first in the line of succession.

19. 31 If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

    • the Speaker of the House

    The Speaker of the House is next in line after the vice president.

20. 32 Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

    • the President

    The Constitution puts the armed forces under a civilian elected by the people: the president.

21. 33 Who signs bills to become laws?

    • the President

    After both chambers of Congress pass a bill, the president signs it to make it law.

22. 34 Who vetoes bills?

    • the President

    To veto is to refuse to sign a bill. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

23. 35 What does the President’s Cabinet do?

    • advises the President

    The Cabinet is the group of heads of the main departments. They advise the president on their subjects.

24. 36 What are two Cabinet-level positions?

    • 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
    • Attorney General
    • Vice President

    This question asks for two. The vice president and the heads of departments such as State and the Treasury are in the Cabinet. Use the titles exactly as your list prints them.

25. 37 What does the judicial branch do?

    • reviews laws
    • explains laws
    • resolves disputes (disagreements)
    • decides if a law goes against the Constitution

    Courts decide what laws mean and whether a law agrees with the Constitution.

26. 38 What is the highest court in the United States?

    • the Supreme Court

    Its decisions are final, and all other courts must follow them.

27. 39 How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

    There is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. USCIS lists the accepted answer on its test updates page. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

28. 40 Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

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

    The Chief Justice leads the Supreme Court. The answer can change with a new appointment: check the USCIS test updates page. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

29. 41 Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

    • to print money
    • to declare war
    • to create an army
    • to make treaties

    Things that affect the whole country, such as money, war and treaties, belong to the federal government alone.

30. 42 Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

    • provide schooling and education
    • provide protection (police)
    • provide safety (fire departments)
    • give a driver’s license
    • approve zoning and land use

    Day-to-day matters such as schools, police, driver's licences and land use are left to the states.

31. 43 Who is the Governor of your state now?

    • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]

    The governor is the head of your state's government. Find the name on your state's official website. Washington, D.C. has no governor. Where to find your answer.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 46 What is the political party of the President now?

    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the political party of the President.

    The answer changes when a president of the other party takes office. Check the USCIS test updates page. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

35. 47 What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    The Speaker leads the House of Representatives and is chosen by its members. The name changes over time: check the USCIS test updates page before your interview. See what the USCIS updates page listed.

Studying this part

• This part has 35 of the 100 questions, numbers 13 to 47 in the official list.
• This question needs more than one answer: no. 36. Give the number asked for.
• The answer to 10 questions is not printed in the list because it depends on who is in office or where you live: no. 20, no. 23, no. 28, no. 29, no. 39, no. 40, no. 43, no. 44, no. 46, no. 47. See answers that change.
• 7 questions here are marked 65/20: no. 13, no. 17, no. 20, no. 27, no. 28, no. 44, no. 45. Applicants who qualify for the 65/20 special consideration study only the marked questions.
• Where several answers are listed, one is enough unless the question asks for more. Choose the one you find easiest to say.
• Cover the answers with your hand or use the button below, say your answer aloud, then check.

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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.