Citizenship test guide
Founding documents for the US citizenship test
Two documents come up again and again on the civics test: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Read them here, learn what they say in plain English, and practice the questions about them.
Start practicing →Read them, then practice
You do not need to memorize these documents. The civics test asks short questions about them, and reading the documents once can make the answers easier to remember. Each page has the full text from the National Archives, a plain-English guide and links to the test questions.
1776
Declaration of Independence
Announced that the thirteen colonies were free from British control, and named ideas about equality and rights.
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1787
Constitution and amendments
Set up the federal government and shares power with the states. It has 27 amendments, and the first ten are the Bill of Rights.
Read the full text →
Both documents also touch on citizenship. The Declaration of Independence mentions "the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners," the Constitution gives Congress the power to make one rule for naturalization, and the 14th Amendment says who is a citizen. To see how immigration to the United States changed over time, read the history of immigration to the United States.
Citizenship test questions about this document
These civics test questions are about the founding documents. Each one links to the answers USCIS accepts.
- Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
- Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- What does the Bill of Rights protect?
- How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
- What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States are U.S. citizens?
WelcomeOath asks every question out loud, listens to your answer and brings back the ones you still miss. The first three lessons are free. See all 128 questions or take a mock citizenship test.
Questions people ask
Which founding documents are on the US citizenship test?
The civics test asks about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and other amendments. You do not need to learn the full text. You need to answer short questions about what they say and why they matter.
Where can I read the original texts?
The National Archives, which keeps the original documents, publishes a transcription of each. This site reproduces those transcriptions and links to them.
Do I have to read these documents to pass the test?
No. Reading them can help you understand the questions, but the 128 civics questions and their accepted answers are enough to prepare.
Is this an official USCIS page?
No. WelcomeOath is not affiliated with USCIS. The questions and accepted answers come from the USCIS 2025 civics test list, and each page links to it.
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Becoming an American is something to celebrate. Practice out loud, and we will help you feel ready for the interview.
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