2008 vs 2025 Citizenship Test

Numbers below are computed live from both official question banks, last verified August 26, 2026.

Not sure which test you’re taking, or how different the two actually are? Here’s the real comparison, computed directly from both official question banks.

Of the 128 questions on the 2025 test, 36 are worded identically to a question on the 2008 test — the rest are new or reworded. If you’re unsure which version applies to you, see the filing-date rule.

92 questions only on the 2025 test

• What is the form of government of the United States?
• Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
• The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
• How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
• What does the Bill of Rights protect?
• How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
• Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
• What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
• Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
• The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
• What is the economic system of the United States?
• What is the rule of law?
• Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
• There are three branches of government. Why?
• Name the three branches of government.
• The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
• What part of the federal government writes laws?
• Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
• How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
• How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
• How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
• Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
• How many senators does each state have?
• Why does each state have two senators?
• Who elects U.S. senators?
• Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
• Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
• Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
• The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
• The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
• Name one power of the president.
• Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
• Who appoints federal judges?
• The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
• Why is the Electoral College important?
• What is one part of the judicial branch?
• How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
• How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
• How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
• Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
• Name one power that is only for the federal government.
• Name one power that is only for the states.
• What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
• There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
• Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
• What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
• Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
• How can people become United States citizens?
• What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
• What is one way Americans can serve their country?
• Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
• It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
• The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
• What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
• What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
• Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
• The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
• There were 13 original states. Name five.
• What founding document was written in 1787?
• Why were the Federalist Papers important?
• Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
• George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
• Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
• James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
• Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
• The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
• Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
• What U.S. war ended slavery?
• What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
• When did all men get the right to vote?
• Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.
• Why did the United States enter World War I?
• When did all women get the right to vote?
• What was the Great Depression?
• When did the Great Depression start?
• Why did the United States enter World War II?
• Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
• Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
• During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
• Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
• Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
• What did the civil rights movement do?
• Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
• Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
• What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
• Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
• Name one example of an American innovation.
• The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?
• What is Independence Day?
• Name three national U.S. holidays.
• What is Memorial Day?
• What is Veterans Day?

64 questions only on the 2008 test

• What does the Constitution do?
• The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
• What is an amendment?
• What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
• What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
• How many amendments does the Constitution have?
• What did the Declaration of Independence do?
• What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
• What is freedom of religion?
• What is the economic system in the United States?
• What is the "rule of law"?
• Name one branch or part of the government.
• What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
• Who is in charge of the executive branch?
• Who makes federal laws?
• We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
• The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
• We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
• Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
• We elect a President for how many years?
• In what month do we vote for President?
• If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
• Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
• How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
• Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
• Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
• What are the two major political parties in the United States?
• What is the political party of the President now?
• There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
• What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
• Name one right only for United States citizens.
• What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
• What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
• How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
• What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
• When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
• When must all men register for the Selective Service?
• What is one reason colonists came to America?
• What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
• Why did the colonists fight the British?
• There were 13 original states. Name three.
• What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
• When was the Constitution written?
• What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
• Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
• Who was the first President?
• Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
• What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
• What did Susan B. Anthony do?
• Who was President during World War I?
• Who did the United States fight in World War II?
• Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
• During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
• What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
• What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
• What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
• Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
• What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
• What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
• Name one U.S. territory.
• Name one state that borders Canada.
• Name one state that borders Mexico.
• When do we celebrate Independence Day?
• Name two national U.S. holidays.