Citizenship Prep

65/20 Civics Questions: The 20 Questions for Seniors

If you're 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, you study only 20 marked civics questions. Here are all 20 for the 2025 test and the 2008 test, with answers.

Updated

If you’re 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years or more, you qualify for the 65/20 special consideration. You only need to study 20 specially marked civics questions. The officer asks 10 and you need 6 correct. You can take the test in your own language, and the English test is waived. Count from the "Resident Since" date on your green card to the day you file.

The 20 questions depend on which test you take. Check which test is yours: October 20, 2025 is the cutover date.

The 20 questions for the 2025 test

  1. 2. What is the supreme law of the land?

    U.S. Constitution

  2. 7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

    Twenty-seven (27)

  3. 12. What is the economic system of the United States?

    Capitalism · Free market economy

  4. 20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

    Writes laws · Declares war · Makes the federal budget

  5. 30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

    Mike Johnson · Johnson · James Michael Johnson birth name

  6. 36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

    Four (4) years

  7. 38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

    Donald J. Trump · Donald Trump · Trump

  8. 39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

    JD Vance · Vance

  9. 44. Who vetoes bills?

    The President of the United States

  10. 52. What is the highest court in the United States?

    Supreme Court

  11. 61. Who is the governor of your state now?

    Depends on where you live. Find your state’s answer.

  12. 66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

    The United States · The flag

  13. 74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

    American Indians · Native Americans

  14. 78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

    Thomas Jefferson

  15. 86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

    "Father of Our Country" · First president of the United States · General of the Continental Army · President of the Constitutional Convention

  16. 94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

    Freed the slaves Emancipation Proclamation · Saved or preserved the Union · Led the United States during the Civil War · 16th president of the United States · and 1 more

  17. 113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.

    Fought for civil rights · Worked for equality for all Americans · Worked to ensure that people would "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"

  18. 115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

    Terrorists attacked the United States · Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City · Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia · Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania

  19. 121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

    Because there were 13 original colonies · Because the stripes represent the original colonies

  20. 126. Name three national U.S. holidays.

    New Year's Day · Martin Luther King, Jr. Day · Presidents Day Washington's Birthday · Memorial Day · and 7 more

Take the 2025 mock test · All 128 questions

The 20 questions for the 2008 test

  1. 6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

    speech · religion · assembly · press · and 1 more

  2. 11. What is the economic system in the United States?

    capitalist economy · market economy

  3. 13. Name one branch or part of the government.

    Congress · legislative · President · executive · and 2 more

  4. 17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

    the Senate and House of Representatives

  5. 20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?

    Depends on where you live. Find your state’s answer.

  6. 27. In what month do we vote for President?

    November

  7. 28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

    Donald J. Trump · Donald Trump · Trump

  8. 44. What is the capital of your state?

    Depends on where you live. Find your state’s answer.

  9. 45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?

    Democratic and Republican

  10. 49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

    serve on a jury · vote in a federal election

  11. 54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

    eighteen (18) and older

  12. 56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

    April 15

  13. 70. Who was the first President?

    George Washington

  14. 75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

    freed the slaves Emancipation Proclamation · saved or preserved the Union · led the United States during the Civil War

  15. 78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

    World War I · World War II · Korean War · Vietnam War · and 1 more

  16. 85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

    fought for civil rights · worked for equality for all Americans

  17. 94. What is the capital of the United States?

    Washington, D.C.

  18. 95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?

    New York Harbor · Liberty Island

  19. 97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?

    because there is one star for each state · because each star represents a state · because there are 50 states

  20. 99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?

    July 4

Take the 2008 mock test · All 100 questions

Answers to questions about people in office are current as of 2026-10-01. Give the name of the person in office on the day of your interview.

Official sources

This guide is based on the official USCIS materials below. Always check them, and your appointment notice, for your own case.

Practice out loud with Officer Michael in the app

A Virtual Officer asks every civics question out loud, listens to your answer and grades it like a real interview. All 128 questions, answers for your state, and progress that tells you when you're ready.

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