Eligibility for naturalization requires "knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States" [Section 312, Immigration and Nationality Act]. The following questions and answers will familiarize you with the nature of the questions that may be asked of a naturalization applicant during a typical interview.

Memorizing the answers to these questions is not a substitute for developing a solid understanding of the government structure and history of the U.S.

The U.S. Government Bookstore, located in the O'Neil Federal Building on Causeway Street in Boston, near North Station, has an excellent series of books available for purchase, at various levels of difficulty, for those wishing to study for the examination. Public libraries also have ample material available. In addition, Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) now offers “flashcards” to aid in preparing for the citizenship interview, available on its website at uscis.gov.

1. What are the colors of the American flag?
The colors of the flag are red, white, and blue.

2. How many stars are there in our flag?
There are 50 stars in our flag.

3. What color are the stars on our flag?
The stars are white.

4. What do the stars on the flag represent?
The stars on the flag represent each state in the Union.

5. How many stripes are there in the flag?
There are thirteen stripes in the flag.

6. What color are the stripes?
The stripes are red and white.

7. What do the stripes on the flag mean?
The stripes represent the original 13 states.

8. Name the thirteen original states.
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Maryland.

9. How many states are there in the Union?
There are fifty (50) states in the Union.

10. Name the 49th and 50th states of the Union.
Alaska and Hawaii are the 49th and 50th states of the Union.

11. What is the national anthem of the United States?
The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.

12. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?
Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore, Maryland.

13. What is the 4th of July?
The 4th of July is celebrated as Independence Day.

14. From whom did we gain independence?
We gained independence from England.

15. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
We fought England during the Revolutionary War (also known as the War of Independence).

16. Who was the first President of the United States?
George Washington was the first President of the United States.

17. Who is the President of the United States?
George W. Bush is the current President of the United States.

18. Who is the Vice President of the United States today?
Richard (Dick) Cheney is the current Vice-President of the United States.

19. Who elects the President of the United States?
The electoral college elects the President of the United States.

20. Who becomes President of the United States if the President should die?
The Vice-President will become President.

21. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the Vice-President should die?
The Speaker of the House of Representatives will become the President.

22. For how long do we elect the President?
The President is elected for four years and may be elected for only two terms (for a maximum of eight years)

23. According to the Constitution, what requirements must a person meet in order to be eligible to become President?

• Must be a natural born citizen of the United States.
   
• Must be at least 35 years old by the time he/she will serve.
   
• Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

25. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
The introduction is called The Preamble.

26. Can the Constitution be changed?
Yes, the Constitution can be changed.

27. What do we call a change to the Constitution?
A change to the Constitution is called an Amendment.

28. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
There are now 27 amendments or changes to the Constitution.

29. What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are referred to as the Bill of Rights.

30. Where does freedom of speech come from?
The first amendment guarantees freedom of speech.

31. Describe the 10 amendments that form the Bill of Rights.

• The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, press, and religion; the right to peaceable assembly; and the right to request a change of government.
   
• The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms (the right to have weapons or own a gun, though subject to certain regulations).
   
• The Third Amendment prohibits the government from quartering, or housing soldiers in the people's homes during peacetime without the people's consent.
   
• The Fourth Amendment prohibits the government from searching a person’s home or property without a warrant.
   
• The Fifth Amendment provides that a person may not be tried twice for the same crime, is not required to testify against him/herself, and is guaranteed due process of law.
   
• The Sixth Amendment provides that a person charged with a crime has the right to a trial, and the right to be represented by a lawyer, if accused of a crime.
   
• The Seventh Amendment provides the right to trial by jury in most cases.
• The Eight Amendment protects people against excessive or unreasonable fines or cruel and unusual punishment.
   
• The Ninth Amendment provides that the people have rights other than those mentioned specifically in the Constitution.
   
• The Tenth Amendment provides that any power not specifically delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution is reserved for either the States or the people.

32. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution?
Everyone who lives in the US (citizens and non-citizens) is protected by the Constitution.

33. What is the minimum voting age in the United States?
The minimum voting age is 18 years old. (Amendment 26)

34. How many branches are there in the Federal Government?
There are three branches in our government: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branch.

35. What does the legislative branch of our government consist of?
The Congress is the legislative branch of our government.

36. What does the Congress consist of?
Congress consists of two "houses": the Senate and the House of Representatives.

37. What is the duty of Congress?
The duty of Congress is to make the laws.

38. Who elects Congress?
The people elect Congress.

39. How many Senators are there in Congress?
There are 100 Senators - two from each state.

40. Who are the two Senators from Massachusetts?
John Kerry and Edward (Ted) Kennedy are the two Senators from Massachusetts.

41. How long is the term of office of a Senator?
The term of office of a Senator is six years.

42. How many Representatives are there in Congress?
There are 435 Representatives in Congress.

43. How long is the term of office of a Representative?
The term of office of a Representative is two years.

44. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?
There is no limit to the number of times a Senator or Representative can be re-elected.

45. Where does the Congress meet?
Congress meets in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

46. What does the Executive Branch of our government consist of?
The Executive Branch consists of the President, the Vice President, the members of the Cabinet, and the departments that serve under the Cabinet members.

47. What special group advises the President?
The Cabinet, which consists of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and others.

48. What is the principal function of the Executive Branch?
Its principal function is to enforce the laws of the United States.

49. Who signs bills into law?
The President signs bills into law.

50. What is the White House?
The White House is the President's official home.

51. Where is the White House located?
The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. in Washington, D.C.

52. Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The Commander in Chief is the President.

53. In what month do we vote for the President?
We vote in November.

54. In what month is the new President inaugurated?
The President is inaugurated in January.

55. What does the Judicial Branch of our government consist of?
The Judicial branch of our government consists of the Supreme Court and the lower Federal Courts.

56. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court interprets the laws of the United States to insure that they do not violate the Constitution.

57. What is the supreme law of the United States?
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

58. What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.

59. How many Justices sit on the Supreme Court?
Nine judges sit on the Supreme Court.

60. Who appoints the Justices to the Supreme Court?
The President appoints the Justices, who must then be approved by the Senate.

61. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
William Rehnquist is now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

62. Who has the power to declare war?
The Congress has the power.

63. What kind of government does the United States have?
Our government is referred to as a representative democracy or republican form of government.

64. What is the capital of Massachusetts?
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts.

65. What is the head executive of a state government called?
He/she is called a Governor.

66. Who is the governor of Massachusetts?
Mitt Romney

67. What is the head executive of a city called?
He/she is called a Mayor.

68. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
The Pilgrims came to America to search for religious freedom.

69. Who helped the Pilgrims in America?
The American Indians (Native Americans) helped them.

70. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
The ship was named The Mayflower.

71. What were the original states of the U.S. called?
They were called colonies.

72. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the American colonists?
Thanksgiving Day was set aside by the colonists to celebrate their survival in America.

73. Which President is called the "Father of our Country"?
George Washington. He served for two terms, from 1789 to 1797

74. Which President was the first Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The first Commander in Chief was George Washington.

75. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
It was adopted on July 4, 1776.

76. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
The basic belief is that all men are created equal.

77. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
The main writer of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson.

78. Who said "Give me liberty or give me death"?
Patrick Henry, a famed patriot.

79. In what year was the Constitution written?
The Constitution was written in 1787.

80. When was the Civil War?
The Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865.

81. Who was the President during the Civil War?
The President during the Civil War was Abraham Lincoln.

82. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
It freed the slaves.

83. Which President freed the slaves?
Abraham Lincoln is credited with freeing the slaves.

84. Who was the President during the First World War?
Woodrow Wilson was the President. He served for two terms, from 1913 to 1921.

85. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
Germany, Italy, and Japan were our enemies during World War II.

86. Who was the President during the Second World War?
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President from 1932. He was the only person to be elected for four terms.

87. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
He was a civil rights leader.

88. What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?
The most important right is the right to vote.

89. Name some of the privileges of U.S. citizenship.
The right to vote; to obtain certain kinds of employment not available to aliens; to travel abroad with a U.S. passport; to petition for close relatives to come to the U.S. to live.

90. What are the two major political parties in the U.S. today?
The two major political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.