Civics 128

The 65/20 exception: 20 questions, 10 asked, 6 to pass

Applicants who are 65 or older and have been lawful permanent residents for 20 years or more on the date they file are tested on a reduced set: the 20 questions marked with an asterisk in the USCIS list. The officer asks 10 of them and 6 correct answers is a pass. You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice.

The English language requirement has separate age rules that are often confused with this one: no English test if you are over 50 and have been a permanent resident for 20 years, or over 55 with 15 years. The 65/20 civics exception is different and requires the 20-year figure with age 65+.

All 20 starred questions

2.What is the supreme law of the land?
(U.S.) Constitution
7.How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
12.What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism · Free market economy
20.Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws · Declares war · Makes the federal budget
30.What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Answer changes with elections or appointments — check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
36.The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
Four (4) years
38.What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Answer changes with elections or appointments — check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
39.What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Answer changes with elections or appointments — check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
44.Who vetoes bills?
The President (of the United States)
52.What is the highest court in the United States?
Supreme Court
61.Who is the governor of your state now?
Depends on your state.
66.What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States · The flag
74.Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians · Native Americans
78.Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
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
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 · Delivered the Gettysburg Address
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”
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
121.Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
(Because there were) 13 original colonies · (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
126.Name three national U.S. holidays.
New Year's Day · Martin Luther King, Jr. Day · Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday) · Memorial Day · Independence Day · Labor Day · Columbus Day · Veterans Day · Thanksgiving Day · Christmas Day

How to study 20 questions in a week

  1. Day 1: read all 20 questions and answers once, aloud.
  2. Days 2 to 4: listen to one audio file a day — the starred questions are spread across all seven files, so use the list above as your checklist and tick each one you answer without hesitating.
  3. Day 5: write the 20 answers from memory. Any question you cannot write, you cannot say under pressure either.
  4. Day 6: have someone ask you 10 random questions from the 20. Count your correct answers. Below 6, repeat day 5.
  5. Day 7: a second round of 10, then stop. Cramming the night before adds anxiety, not recall.

Two of the 20 change with elections (the President and the Speaker) and one depends on your state (your governor). That is 3 of 20 — enough to fail on its own if you guess wrong. Check them the day before.

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Civics 128 — an independent study kit. The 128 questions and their acceptable answers are taken from USCIS form M-1778 (09/25), 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), published on uscis.gov and in the public domain. Audio, practice tests, answer keys and all written guidance are original to this kit. No affiliation with, endorsement by, or connection to USCIS, DHS or any government agency.

Answers that change with elections or appointments were checked on 5 November 2026 — always confirm them at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview. No tracking cookies, no personal data collected. Page updated 2026-11-05.