100 Questions from the INS
Study Guide: arranged by topic
(Topic headings correlate to chapters in Citizenship: Passing the Test
by Lynne Weintraub, New Readers Press)
1. Welcome to the U.S. (general information)
1. What are the colors of our flag? 1. Red, white and blue
2. How many stars are there in our flag? 2. 50
3. What color are the stars on our flag? 3. White
4. What do the stars on the flag mean? 4. One for each state
5. How many stripes are there in the flag? 5. 13
6. What color are the stripes? 6. Red and white
7. How many states are there in the union? 7. 50
8. What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S. today? 8. Democratic
& Republican
9. How many states are there in the United States? 9. 50
10. What kind of government does the U.S. have? 10. A Republic
11. What is the capital of your state? 11. (local info)
13. Who is the head of your local government? 12. (local info)
14. What is the national anthem of the United States? 13. The Star-Spangled
Banner
15. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner? 14. Francis Scott Key
16. What is the minimum voting age in the United States 15. 18
17. What is the head executive of a state government called? 16. A governor
18. What is the head executive of a city government called? 17. A mayor
2. Early History
19. What is the name of the ship that brought the pilgrims 19. The Mayflower
to America?
20. Why did the pilgrims come to America? 20. For religious freedom
21. Who helped the pilgrims in America? 21. Native Americans
22. What holiday was celebrated for the first time
by the American colonists? 22. Thanksgiving
23. What were the 13 original states of the U.S. called? 23. Colonies
3. The Revolutionary War
24. What is the 4th of July? 24. Independence Day
25. What is the date of Independence Day? 25. July 4th
26. Who did the United States gain independence from? 26. England
27. What country did we fight during the
Revolutionary War? 27. England
28. Can you name the original thirteen states? 28. New York, New Jersey,
New Hampshire,
Maryland, Massachusetts
North Carolina, South
Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, Georgia,
Connecticut, Delaware,
Rhode Island
29. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death"? 29. Patrick
Henry
30. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of
Independence? 30. Thomas Jefferson
31. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? 31. July 4th,
1776
32. Which President is called "the father of our country"?
32. George Washington
33. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of
Independence? 33. That all men are created
equal
34. Which President was the first commander in chief
of the U.S. military? 34. George Washington
35. What do the stripes on the flag mean? 35. They represent the original
thirteen states
36.Who was the first President of the United States? 36. George Washington
4. The Civil War
37. Who was the President during the civil war? 37. Abraham Lincoln
38. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? 38. Freed many slaves
39. Which President freed the slaves? 39. Abraham Lincoln
5. Later History
40. Which countries were our enemies during World
War II? 40. Germany, Italy, and Japan
41. What are the 49th and 50th states of the union? 41. Hawaii and Alaska
42. Who was Martin Luther King Jr.? 42. A civil rights leader
43. Name one purpose of the United Nations? 43. For countries to
discuss and try to resolve
world problems
6. The Constitution
44. What is the Constitution? 44. The supreme law
of the land
45. Can the Constitution be changed? 45. Yes
46. What do we call a change to the Constitution? 46. Amendments
47. How many changes or amendments are there
to the Constitution? 47. Twenty seven
48. What is the supreme law of the United States? 48. The Constitution
49. What is the Bill of Rights? 49. The first 10 amendments
of the Constitution
50. Where does freedom of speech come from? 50. The Bill of Rights
51. Name three rights or freedoms guaranteed by
the Bill of Rights 51. Freedom of speech,
freedom of the press,
freedom of religion, etc.
52. What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution
called? 52. The Bill of Rights
53. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights? 53. Everyone's (citizens and
non-citizens living in the U.S.)
54. What is the introduction to the Constitution called? 54. The preamble
55. Name one right guaranteed by the first amendment. 55. Freedom of
speech,
freedom of the press,
freedom of religion, etc.
56. What is the most important right granted to U.S.
citizens? 56. The right to vote
57. In what year was the Constitution written? 57. 1787
58. How many branches are there in our government? 58. Three
59. What are the three branches of our government? 59. Legislative,
Executive, &
Judicial
60. Name one benefit of being a citizen of the U.S.? 60. Obtain federal
government
jobs, travel with a U.S.
passport, petition for
family visas
61. What immigration form is used to apply to become
a naturalized citizen? 61. Form N-400
7. Executive branch
62. Who is the President of the United States today? 62. George W. Bush
63. Who is the Vice-President today? 63. Dick Cheney
64. Who elects the President of the United States? 64. The electoral
college
65. Who becomes President of the United States
if the President should die? 65. The Vice-President
66. How long do we elect the President? 66. 4 years
67. How many terms can a President serve? 67. 2
68. Who becomes President of the United States
if the President and Vice-President should die? 68. The Speaker of the
House
69. What is the executive branch of the government? 69. The President,
Cabinet, and departments under
the Cabinet members
70. According to the Constitution, a person must meet
certain requirements in order to become President.
Name one of these requirements. 70. Must be a natural born citizen,
must be at
least 35 years old
71. Who signs bills into law? 71. The President
72. What special group advises the President? 72. The Cabinet
73. Who has the power to declare war? 73. The Congress
74. What is the name of the President's official home? 74. The White
House
75. What is the White House? 75. The President's official
home
76. Where is the White House located? 76. Washington, D.C.
77. Who is commander in chief of the U.S. military? 77. The President
78. In what month do we vote for the President? 78. November
79. In what month is the new President inaugurated? 79. January
8. Legislative branch
80. What is the legislative branch of our government? 80. Congress
81. Who makes laws in the United States? 81. Congress
82. What is Congress? 82. The Senate and House of
Representatives
83. What are the duties of Congress? 83. To make laws
84. Who elects Congress? 84. The people
85. How many senators are there in Congress? 85. 100
86. Why are there 100 senators in the Senate? 86. 2 from each state
87. Can you name the two senators from your state? 87. (local info)
88. How long do we elect each senator? 88. For six years
89. How many representatives are there in Congress? 89. 435
90. How long do we elect the representatives? 90. 2 years
91. Where does Congress meet? 91. The capitol building
92. How many times may a senator be re-elected? 92. No limit
93. How many times may a congressman be re-elected? 93. No limit
94. What is the United States Capitol ? 94. The place where Congress
meets
9. Judicial branch
95. What is the judiciary branch of our government? 95. The Supreme
Court
96. What are the duties of the Supreme Court? 96. To interpret laws
97. Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court? 97. William Rehnquist
98. Who selects the Supreme Court justices? 98. The President
99. How many Supreme Court justices are there? 99. 9
100. What is the highest court in the United States? 100. The Supreme
Court
