USCIS 128 Civics Questions Practice Test: Part 1 (American Government)

The United States is a republic: the people elect representatives who govern under the Constitution. The official list also accepts "constitution-based federal republic" and "representative democracy".

Article VI of the Constitution calls it the supreme law of the land; federal and state laws must follow it. The Declaration of Independence announced independence but is not a body of law.

The Constitution sets up the federal government and limits what it may do. Other accepted answers: forms the government, defines the parts of government, protects the rights of the people.

The opening words say that power comes from the people, not from a ruler. Also accepted: popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, people should govern themselves, (example of) social contract.

The Constitution is changed only through the amendment process in Article V; an executive order cannot change it. "The amendment process" is also accepted.

The first ten amendments protect freedoms such as speech, religion and a fair trial. "The basic rights of people living in the United States" is also accepted.

There are 27 amendments; the last one was ratified in 1992. Ten is only the number of amendments in the Bill of Rights.

Adopted in 1776, it announced that the colonies were independent of Britain. Also accepted: it says all people are created equal, it identifies inherent rights, it identifies individual freedoms.

The Declaration of Independence (1776) declared the colonies free; the Constitution was written later, in 1787.

Both documents rest on liberty and equality. Other accepted ideas: social contract, natural rights, limited government, self-government.

These words come from the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, which names them as unalienable rights.

In the U.S. economy, businesses are mostly privately owned and prices are set by the market. "Free market economy" is also accepted.

The rule of law means the same laws bind everyone, including leaders and the government. Also accepted: everyone must follow the law, leaders must obey the law, government must obey the law.

The Mayflower Compact (1620) was an early agreement to govern by consent. The other options were written after 1787. Also accepted: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist Papers, Anti-Federalist Papers, Virginia Declaration of Rights, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Iroquois Great Law of Peace.

Dividing power lets each branch check the others. "Checks and balances" and "separation of powers" are also accepted.

Congress makes the laws, the president carries them out and the courts interpret them. "Congress, president, and the courts" is also accepted.

The president heads the executive branch, which enforces federal laws. There is no separate "military branch" of government.

Congress writes federal laws; the president signs or vetoes them. Also accepted: (U.S. or national) legislature, legislative branch.

Congress is bicameral: the Senate has 100 members and the House of Representatives has 435 voting members.

Only Congress can declare war. Vetoing is a power of the president. Other accepted answers: writes laws, makes the federal budget.

Each of the 50 states has two senators, so there are 100. 535 is the total of senators and voting representatives together.

Senators serve six-year terms, and about one third of the Senate is elected every two years.

The House has 435 voting members, divided among the states by population. Delegates from D.C. and the territories do not vote on final passage of bills.

All 435 House seats are up for election every two years. Six years is the term of a senator.

Elections every two years keep House members close to the changing views of voters in their districts.

Every state has two senators no matter its size. Population decides the number of House seats, not Senate seats.

Giving every state two senators protects small states, while the House is based on population. "The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)" is also accepted.

A senator is elected statewide and represents the whole state. "People of their state" is also accepted.

Since the 17th Amendment (1913), voters in each state elect their senators directly.

Each representative is elected by one congressional district and represents everyone in it. "People from their (congressional) district" is also accepted.

Voters in each congressional district elect their representative every two years.

House seats are divided by population after each census, so a big state like California has many more seats than Wyoming. Also accepted: they have more people, some states have more people.

A presidential term is four years. Eight years is the most a president can usually serve in two terms.