U.S. Citizenship Civics Test Principles of American Government Summary

The supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution. No other law, federal or state, can go against it.

Wrong choices

• Declaration of Independence: It announced freedom from Britain in 1776, but it is not the law that runs the government.
• Articles of Confederation: This was the first plan of government. The Constitution replaced it.
• Federalist Papers: These essays explained the Constitution. They are not law.

The U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments. The first ten are called the Bill of Rights.

Wrong choices

• Ten (10): Ten is the number in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments only.
• Twenty-five (25): There are more than 25. The total is 27.
• Thirty-three (33): The total is 27, not 33.

The economic system of the United States is capitalism. People and private businesses own and run most of the economy.
Other answer USCIS accepts: Free market economy.

Wrong choices

• Communism: In communism the government owns businesses. The U.S. does not use this system.
• Socialism: The U.S. economy is based on private businesses, not socialism.
• Feudalism: Feudalism was an old system of lords and land. It is not used in the U.S.

The United States is a republic. In a republic, the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.
Other answers USCIS accepts: Constitution-based federal republic, Representative democracy.

Wrong choices

• Constitutional monarchy: A monarchy has a king or queen. The United States has no king.
• Military dictatorship: In a dictatorship one leader or the army rules. U.S. leaders are elected.
• One-party state: The United States has many political parties, and people choose their leaders.

Changes to the Constitution are made by amendments. An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution.
Other answer USCIS accepts: The amendment process.

Wrong choices

• Executive orders: The President's orders cannot change the Constitution.
• Treaties with other countries: Treaties are agreements with other nations. They do not change the Constitution.
• Presidential vetoes: A veto only rejects a bill. It does not change the Constitution.

There are three branches so one part does not become too powerful. Each branch can check the others.
Other answers USCIS accepts: Checks and balances, Separation of powers.

Wrong choices

• So the President can make all decisions: Splitting power keeps the President from making all decisions.
• So each state can have its own army: The three branches are about sharing federal power, not state armies.
• So laws can be passed faster: Checks and balances are about limiting power, not speed.

The Constitution defines the powers of government. It is the plan that sets up the government and tells what each part can do.
Other answers USCIS accepts: Forms the government, Defines the parts of government, Protects the rights of the people.

Wrong choices

• Declares independence from Britain: That is what the Declaration of Independence did in 1776.
• Names an official state religion: The Constitution does not set up an official religion.
• Sets the yearly federal tax rate: Congress passes tax laws. The Constitution does not set a yearly rate.

"We the People" means self-government. The government gets its power from the people.
Other answers USCIS accepts: Popular sovereignty, Consent of the governed, People should govern themselves, (Example of) social contract.

Wrong choices

• The king rules the people: The Constitution has no king. Power comes from the people.
• Only landowners may govern: "We the People" means all the people, not one group.
• The army governs the people: The army does not rule. The people govern themselves through elected leaders.

The Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of Americans. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, such as freedom of speech and religion.
Other answer USCIS accepts: (The basic) rights of people living in the United States.

Wrong choices

• The powers of the President: The Bill of Rights protects people's rights, not the President's power.
• The rights of the British king: The Bill of Rights is an American document. It protects Americans.
• The budget of the federal government: Congress makes the budget. The Bill of Rights is about rights.

The Declaration of Independence says America is free from British control. It was adopted on July 4, 1776.
Other answers USCIS accepts: It says all people are created equal, It identifies inherent rights, It identifies individual freedoms.

Wrong choices

• It created the U.S. Supreme Court.: The Constitution created the Supreme Court, not the Declaration.
• It set up the first federal budget.: The Declaration did not deal with money or budgets.
• It made Washington, D.C. the capital.: The capital was chosen later. The Declaration did not do this.