The 20 Civics Questions for the 65/20 Senior Exemption
If you are 65 years of age or older and have been a permanent resident (Green Card holder) for at least 20 years, you are eligible to study only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk (∗).
Official 65/20 Naturalization Privileges
- Only 20 Questions to Study: You do not need to memorize all 100 questions. Your test questions will come exclusively from the 20 items listed below.
- Passing Score: The officer will ask up to 10 questions from this 20-question pool. You must answer 6 correctly to pass.
- Native Language Interpreter: You are exempt from the English reading and writing test. You may bring an interpreter to translate the 10 civics questions into your native language.
Practice 65/20 Flashcard Deck
What is the supreme law of the land?
All 20 Designated Senior Exemption Questions
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
- Speech
- Religion
- Assembly
- Press
- Petition the government
Why this matters: The First Amendment protects five foundational freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitioning the government.
What is the economic system in the United States?*
- Capitalist economy
- Market economy
Why this matters: The U.S. operates on a free market capitalist system where private individuals and businesses produce goods based on supply and demand.
Name one branch or part of the government.*
- Congress
- Legislative
- President
- Executive
- The courts
- Judicial
Why this matters: The U.S. government is split into three branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Courts).
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
- The Senate and House of Representatives
Why this matters: Congress is bicameral: the Senate (equal representation per state) and the House of Representatives (proportional to population).
Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?*
- Answers will vary. (District of Columbia and U.S. territories have no voting Senators).
Why this matters: This is a state-specific question. Look up your state's current senators using our interactive State Lookup tool.
In what month do we vote for President?*
- November
Why this matters: Federal Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years.
What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
- Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for current officials.
Why this matters: Always confirm the active sitting President at your interview date. Answers are updated automatically.
What is the capital of your state?*
- Answers will vary. (District of Columbia residents should answer that DC is not a state and has no capital).
Why this matters: Know your specific state's capital city (e.g., Albany for NY, Sacramento for CA, Austin for TX).
What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
- Democratic and Republican
Why this matters: The modern American party system has been dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties since the mid-19th century.
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
- Serve on a jury
- Vote in a federal election
Why this matters: Only U.S. citizens are eligible and required to serve on federal/state trial juries and vote in federal elections.
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
- 18 and older
- Eighteen (18) and older
Why this matters: The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971 during the Vietnam War, lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18.
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
- April 15
Why this matters: April 15 is standard Tax Day for filing federal individual income tax returns (Form 1040) with the IRS.
Who was the first President?*
- (George) Washington
Why this matters: George Washington served as the first U.S. President from 1789 to 1797, setting crucial precedents for executive power.
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
Why this matters: Lincoln preserved the United States as one nation through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
Why this matters: Major 20th-century conflicts include WWI (1917-18), WWII (1941-45), the Korean War (1950-53), Vietnam War (1964-73), and the Gulf War (1991).
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
- Fought for civil rights
- Worked for equality for all Americans
Why this matters: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the most prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, famous for his 'I Have a Dream' speech and dedication to nonviolent action.
What is the capital of the United States?*
- Washington, D.C.
Why this matters: Washington, District of Columbia, is the permanent federal capital created by the Residence Act of 1790.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
- New York (Harbor)
- Liberty Island
- [Also acceptable: New Jersey, near New York City, on the Hudson (River)]
Why this matters: A gift of friendship from France dedicated in 1886, Lady Liberty stands in New York Harbor on Liberty Island.
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
Why this matters: The American flag features 50 white stars on a blue union, with each star representing one of the 50 current states in the Union.
When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
- July 4
Why this matters: Celebrated annually on the Fourth of July to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.