2025 US civics test, question 1

What is the form of government of the United States?

Official answers

USCIS accepts any one of these:

Republic
Constitution-based federal republic
Representative democracy

Explained

The United States is not ruled by a king or a queen. Its people govern themselves by electing representatives to serve in local, state, and U.S. governments, which is what a republic or representative democracy means.

Sources: USCIS, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version, M-1778); USCIS, One Nation, One People: The USCIS 2025 Civics Test Study Guide (Chapter 1: The U.S. Constitution > We the People).

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Independent study page, not affiliated with USCIS. The question and answers are from the official USCIS list; the explanation is written by Capxule from the official USCIS study guide. Some answers change after elections; USCIS asks you to give the name of the official serving at the time of your interview.