The 65/20 Exemption Civics Questions (Reduced List)

If you are 65 years old or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you qualify for the 65/20 special consideration. You may take the civics test in the language of your choice with a qualified interpreter, and you only need to study a reduced set of questions instead of the full civics list. The questions marked for this exemption are listed below.

Study the marked questions below until the answers come easily. Tap into the practice test to drill them, and confirm the current official list on uscis.gov before your interview.

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

   Answer: (U.S.) Constitution

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

   Answer: Twenty-seven (27)

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

   Answer: Capitalism; Free market economy

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

   Answer: Writes laws; Declares war; Makes the federal budget

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

   Answer: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name.

   This answer changes over time. Confirm the current officials before your interview.

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

   Answer: Four (4) years

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

   Answer: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name.

   This answer changes over time. Confirm the current officials before your interview.

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

   Answer: Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current name.

   This answer changes over time. Confirm the current officials before your interview.

9. 44. Who vetoes bills?

   Answer: The President (of the United States)

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

    Answer: Supreme Court

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

    Answer: Answers will vary. District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.

    This answer changes over time. Confirm the current officials before your interview.

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

    Answer: The United States; The flag

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

    Answer: American Indians; Native Americans

14. 78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

    Answer: (Thomas) Jefferson

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

    Answer: "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.

    Answer: 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

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

    Answer: 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?

    Answer: 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?

    Answer: (Because there were) 13 original colonies; (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies

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

    Answer: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday); Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the 65/20 reduced civics list? Applicants who are 65 or older and have been lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years.

Can I take the civics test in my own language? Yes. If you qualify for the 65/20 exemption, you may take the civics test in your language with a qualified interpreter.

How many civics questions do I study for the 65/20 exemption? Only the reduced set marked for the exemption, rather than the full civics list. Always confirm the current official list on uscis.gov, since the test and its lists can be updated.