wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

US Civics Exam

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 1hrs 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the supreme law of the land?

a)

The Constitution

b)

The President

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

State Laws

2.

What does the Constitution do?

a)

Defines the structure of the government and protects the basic rights of Americans

b)

Lists the rights of the citizens and provides legal basis for those rights.

c)

Sets the national anthem, flag, and national holidays

d)

None of the above

3.

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

a)

We the People

b)

In God We

c)

Liberty and Justice

d)

All Men Equal

4.

What is an amendment?

a)

A change or addition to a legal document

b)

A type of government

c)

A historical event

d)

A scientific term

5.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

a)

The Bill of Rights

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Federalist Papers

d)

The Emancipation Proclamation

6.

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

a)

Freedom of speech

b)

Right to bear arms

c)

Right to due process of law

d)

Right to vote

7.

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

a)

25

b)

27

c)

30

d)

33

8.

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

a)

created the foundation of the Constitution

b)

declared our independence from Great Britain

c)

established the Articles of the Confederation

d)

established the US legal system

9.

What are the rights explicitly listed in the Declaration of Independence? Choose all that apply.

a)

life

b)

liberty

c)

pursuit of happiness

d)

right to succeed

e)

right of opportunity

10.

What is freedom of religion?

a)

The right to practice any religion or no religion

b)

A government-imposed religion

c)

Restrictions on religious practices

d)

A historical concept with no modern relevance

11.

What is the economic system in the United States?

a)

capitalist market economy

b)

communist socialist economy

c)

command economy

d)

mixed economy

12.

Which of the following does NOT represent the “rule of law”?

a)

Everyone must follow the law

b)

Leaders must obey the law

c)

Government must obey the law

d)

No one is above the law

e)

The law is absolute.

13.

Which of the following do NOT represent a branch or part of the government? Choose all that apply.

a)

President, Congress, and Supreme Court

b)

Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

c)

The FBI, CIA, and Supreme Court

d)

The Army, Navy, and Air Force

14.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Choose all that apply.

a)

checks and balances

b)

separation of powers

c)

The FBI

d)

The CIA

e)

The Supreme Court

15.

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

a)

The President

b)

The Vice-President

c)

The Secretary of State

d)

The Chief Justice

16.

Who makes federal laws?

a)

Congress

b)

The President

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The Attorney General

17.

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

a)

The Senate and the House of Representatives

b)

The Supreme Court and the President

c)

The Senate and the Supreme Court

d)

The President and the House of Representatives

18.

How many U.S. Senators are there?

a)

50

b)

100

c)

150

d)

200

19.

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

a)

two (2)

b)

four (4)

c)

six (6)

d)

eight (8)

20.

Who are your state’s U.S. Senators now?

a)

Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff

b)

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty

c)

Mitch McConnel and Rand Paul

d)

Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham

21.

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

a)

435

b)

100

c)

538

d)

50

22.

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

a)
two (2)
b)

four (4)

c)

six (6)

d)

eight (8)

23.

Name your U.S. Representative.

a)

Nancy Pelosi

b)

Kevin McCarthy

c)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

d)

Chuck Fleischmann

24.

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

a)

All the people of their state

b)

Only their political party

c)

The President

d)

Their local municipality

25.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

a)

Based on the state's GDP

b)

Due to the geographical size of the state

c)

Because of the population size of the state

d)

Random allocation by the government

26.

We elect a President for how many years at a time (How long is a Presidential term?)?

a)

Two (2)

b)

Four (4)

c)

Six (6)

d)

Eight (8)

27.

In what month do we vote for President?

a)

August

b)

July

c)

March

d)

November

28.

What is the name of the President of the United States now?

a)

Joe Biden

b)

Donald Trump

c)

Barack Obama

d)

George W. Bush

29.

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

a)

Kamala Harris

b)

Joe Biden

c)

Mike Pence

d)

Nancy Pelosi

30.

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

a)

The Vice President

b)

The Speaker of the House

c)

The Secretary of State

d)

The Chief Justice

31.

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

a)

The Speaker of the House

b)

The Secretary of State

c)

The Chief Justice

d)

The Secretary of Defense

32.

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

a)

The President

b)

The Vice President

c)

The Secretary of Defense

d)

The Chief of Staff

33.

Who signs bills to become laws?

a)

The President

b)

The Vice President

c)

The Speaker of the House

d)

The Chief Justice

34.

Who vetoes bills?

a)

The President

b)

The Vice President

c)

The Speaker of the House

d)

The Chief Justice

35.

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

a)

Advise the President on any subject he may require

b)

Make laws and regulations

c)

Manage the national defense

d)

Conduct foreign policies

36.

Which of the following is not a cabinet-level position in the federal government:

a)

Secretary of Agriculture

b)

Secretary of Commerce

c)

Vice President

d)

Attorney General

e)

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

37.

What does the judicial branch do?

a)

Reviews and interpret laws; decides if laws are unconstitutional; and resolves legal disputes

b)

Creates new laws and ensures that they are enforced.

c)

Supports and vetoes laws.

d)

Oversees the budget

38.

What is the highest court in the United States?

a)

The Supreme Court

b)

The Court of Appeals

c)

The District Court

d)

The State Supreme Court

39.

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

a)

7 justices

b)

9 justices

c)

11 justices

d)

13 justices

40.

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

a)

John Roberts

b)

Clarence Thomas

c)

Sonia Sotomayor

d)

Stephen Breyer

41.

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. Which of the following is NOT one power of the federal government?

a)

to declare war and make treaties

b)

print money

c)

enforce borders

d)

maintain a police force

42.

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

a)

Provide schooling and education

b)

Declare war

c)

Print money

d)

Make treaties

43.

Who is the Governor of your state now?

a)

Gavin Newsom

b)

Greg Abbott

c)

Ron DeSantis

d)

Bill Lee

44.

What is the capital of your state?

a)

Raleigh

b)

Austin

c)

Nashville

d)

Tallahassee

45.

What are the two major political parties in the United States (choose 2 below)?

a)

Democrat

b)

Green

c)

Independent

d)

Republican

46.

What is the political party of the President now?

a)

Democrat

b)

Republican

c)

Independent

d)

Green Party

47.

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now (Spring 2024)?

a)

Nancy Pelosi

b)

Kevin McCarthy

c)

Chuck Schumer

d)

Mike Johnson

48.

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Which one of the following is NOT an amendment related to voting rights?

a)

The 15th Amendment

b)

The 19th Amendment

c)

The 24th Amendment

d)

The 26th Amendment

e)

The 25th Amendment

49.

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

a)

Serve on a jury and vote in federal elections

b)

Pay taxes and maintain a job

c)

Obey the law and support the legal system

d)

Attend school and get a degree

50.

Name one right only for United States citizens.

a)

Right to vote in federal elections and run for federal office.

b)

Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship

c)

Freedom of the press

d)

Freedom of speech

51.

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States (choose all that apply)?

a)

freedom of speech and freedom of expression

b)

freedom of religion and freedom of assembly

c)

the right to bear arms and the freedom to petition the government

d)

freedom to make yourself a sovereign nation and freedom of diplomatic immunity

52.

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

a)

The president of the United States

b)

The Congress of the United States

c)

the United States and its flag

d)

The Judicial System of the United States

53.

Which of the following is NOT a promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

a)

obey the laws of the United States

b)

give up loyalty to other countries

c)

defend the Constitution and laws of the United States

d)

be buried on US soil.

e)

serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)

54.

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

a)

16 years old

b)

18 years old

c)

21 years old

d)

25 years old

55.

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

a)

Voting and running for office

b)

Paying taxes and obeying laws

c)

Watching news and staying informed

d)

Joining the military and fighting overseas

56.

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

a)

April 15

b)

May 1

c)

June 15

d)

July 31

57.

At what age must all men begin to register for the Selective Service (draft)?

a)

At age 16

b)

At age 18

c)

At age 21

d)

At age 25

58.

Why did colonists come to America? Choose all that apply below.

a)

For religious freedom

b)

economic opportunities

c)

freedom

d)

to escape persecution

e)

to go on vacation

59.

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

a)

Native Americans

b)

Vikings

c)

Colonial Europeans

d)

None of the above

60.

What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

a)

Indigenous peoples

b)

Africans

c)

Europeans

d)

Asians

61.

Which reason below is NOT why the colonists fought the British in the American Revolution?

a)

To gain independence

b)

Because of taxation without representation

c)

To expand their territories

d)

Because of British Boarding and Quartering of troops in colonist houses.

e)

For better sea trade routes

62.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

George Washington

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

John Adams

63.

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

a)

July 2, 1776

b)

July 4, 1776

c)

August 2, 1776

d)

June 4, 1776

64.

There were 13 original states. Name three.

a)

New York, New Jersey, Virginia

b)

California, Texas, Florida

c)

Alaska, Hawaii, Washington

d)

Georgia, Massachusetts, Alabama

65.

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

a)

The Articles of Confederation were written.

b)

The Declaration of Independence was written.

c)

The Constitution was written.

d)

The Bill of Rights was written.

66.

When was the Constitution written?

a)

1776

b)

1787

c)

1791

d)

1804

67.

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

George Washington

68.

What is Benjamin Franklin famous for? Choose all that apply below.

a)

U.S. diplomat

b)

oldest member of the Constitutional Convention

c)

first Postmaster General of the United States

d)

writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"

e)

started the first free libraries

69.

Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

a)

Abraham Lincoln

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

George Washington

d)

Benjamin Franklin

70.

Who was the first President?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Theodore Roosevelt

71.

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

a)

The Territory of Alaska

b)

The Louisiana Territory

c)

The Territory of Texas

d)

The Yukon Territory

e)

American Samoa and Guam

72.

Choose the wars fought by the United States in the 1800s from the list below (choose all that apply).

a)

The Spanish-American War

b)

The War of 1812

c)

The Civil War

d)

The Mexican-American War

e)

The American Revolution

73.

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

a)

The Civil War

b)

The Spanish-American War

c)

The Texas Revolution

d)

The French and Indian War

74.

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the Civil War?

a)

expansion of territory

b)

slavery

c)

state's rights

d)

economic reasons

75.

Which of the following did Abraham Lincoln NOT do?

a)

freed slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

b)

saved (or preserved) the Union

c)

led the United States during the Civil War

d)

Lead the Reconstruction efforts after the Civil War

76.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

a)

declared that all person's held as slaves in rebellious states were freed.

b)

freed slaves held in Union states.

c)

freed slaves in states and territories then held by the Union

d)

abolished slavery throughout the United States.

77.

What did Susan B. Anthony do (choose all that apply)?

a)

advocate for Women's Rights

b)

refuse to sit in the back of the bus

c)

sewed the first flag of the United States

d)

supported the temperance movement

78.

What wars were fought by the United States in the 1900s (choose all that apply from the choices below).

a)

Spanish-American War

b)

World War I

c)

World War II

d)

Korean War

e)

Vietnam War

79.

Who was President during World War I?

a)

Theodore Roosevelt

b)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

c)

Herbert Hoover

d)

Woodrow Wilson

e)

Harry S. Truman

80.

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

a)

Herbert Hoover

b)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

c)

Woodrow Wilson

d)

Grover Cleveland

e)

Theodore Roosevelt

81.

Who did the United States fight in World War II (Choose all that apply)?

a)

Japan

b)

Germany

c)

Italy

d)

Britain

e)

France

82.

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

a)

Spanish-American War

b)

World War I

c)

World War II

d)

Korean War

83.

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

a)

the Moon Landing

b)

Combating Democracy

c)

Staying Warm

d)

Communism

84.

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

a)

the Lord's Acre Movement

b)

the Civil Rights Movement

c)

the Beatnik Movement

d)

the Temperance Movement

85.

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

a)

refused to ride in the back of the bus

b)

founded the Tuskegee Institute

c)

advocated for civil rights

d)

invented peanut-based products

86.

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

a)

Hijacked commercial passenger airplanes were flown into major US sites, such as the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths.

b)

The U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya is attacked, resulting in four deaths.

c)

Continental Express Flight 2574 crashes in Colorado County, Texas, near Eagle Lake, killing 11 passengers and three crew.

d)

A bomb planted by a Croatian terrorist, Zvonko Bušić, is found at New York's Grand Central Terminal; one NYPD officer is killed trying to defuse it.

87.

Choose all American Indian tribes in the United States from the choices listed below.

a)

Cherokee

b)

Creek

c)

Lakota

d)

Teton

e)

Huron

88.

Name the two longest rivers in the United States.

a)

Missouri River

b)

Mississippi River

c)

Ohio River

d)

Tennessee River

e)

Columbia River

89.

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

a)

Pacific Ocean

b)

Arctic Ocean

c)

Indian Ocean

d)

Atlantic Ocean

90.

What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

a)

Pacific Ocean

b)

Arctic Ocean

c)

Indian Ocean

d)

Atlantic Ocean

91.

Choose all U.S. territories below.

a)

Puerto Rico

b)

U.S. Virgin Islands

c)

American Samoa

d)

Hawaii

e)

Guam

92.

Name one state that borders Canada.

a)

Pennsylvania

b)

Wyoming

c)

Oregon

d)

Wisconsin

e)

Indiana

93.

Name one state that borders Mexico.

a)

California

b)

Massachusetts

c)

Montana

d)

Florida

94.

What is the capital of the United States?

a)

New York City, New York

b)

Washington D.C.

c)

Boston, Massachusetts

d)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

95.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

a)

New York Harbor

b)

Ellis Island

c)

Angel Island

d)

Washington D.C.

96.

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

a)

To represent the founding fathers

b)

To represent the number of original colonies

c)

To represent the number rights listed in the Bill of RIghts.

d)

To represent the number of delegates at the Continental Congress

97.

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

a)

to represent the number of federal voting districts

b)

to illustrate how large the united states is

c)

to represent each state

d)

to honor the United State's most influential citizens

98.

What is the name of the national anthem?

a)

I'm Proud to Be an American

b)

Stars and Stripes Forever

c)

Yankee Doodle

d)

The Star Spangled Banner

99.

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

4 lines
100.

Name two national U.S. holidays.

4 lines