These questions finish the government section of the test: the judicial branch, and how power is split between the federal government and the states.
The judicial branch
The courts review and explain laws, settle disagreements about the law, and decide whether a law goes against the Constitution. At the top is the Supreme Court:
- 9 seats, and 5 justices are usually needed to decide a case.
- Justices serve for life, so they can be independent of politics.
Federal or state?
The Constitution gives some powers to the federal government and leaves the rest to the states. That idea is the 10th Amendment.
| Only the federal government | Only the states |
|---|---|
| Print paper money, mint coins | Schools and education |
| Declare war, create an army | Police and fire departments |
| Make treaties, set foreign policy | Driver’s licenses |
| Zoning and land use |
A quick way to remember: anything dealing with other countries or money is federal; anything you deal with in your own town is the state.
Questions with your own answer
- The Chief Justice: check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview.
- Your governor and your state capital: look them up. D.C. and territory residents have special answers (on the cards).
Questions 52 and 61 are on the shorter list for the 65/20 special consideration.
This deck is study help, not legal advice. For anything about your own application, go to uscis.gov.