State capitals: the answer for your state

"What is the capital of your state?" is question 62 in the 2025 list and question 44 in the 2008 list, where it is also one of the 65/20 questions. You need only one line of this table: your own state.

The capital is the city where the state government sits: the governor's office and the state legislature. It is often not the largest or best-known city. The capital of New York State is Albany, not New York City; of California, Sacramento, not Los Angeles; of Illinois, Springfield, not Chicago; of Florida, Tallahassee, not Miami; of Texas, Austin, not Houston.

Washington, D.C. and the territories

The official lists give an instruction for this question: residents of the District of Columbia should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital, and residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory. Do not confuse this with the separate question "What is the capital of the United States?", whose answer is Washington, D.C.

The other questions about your state

Three more questions depend on where you live: one of your state's U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, and your governor. Their answers change with elections, so we do not list them. USCIS points to senate.gov, house.gov and usa.gov/states-and-territories. See answers that change.

If you move before your interview

These questions are about the state where you live. If you move to another state after filing, learn the answers for your new state as well, and tell USCIS about your change of address as its rules require.

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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.