USCIS 128:03. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

OpenAI. (2026). Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Constitution forms the government of the United States. This means it creates the basic system of government. It explains how the country is organized and how leaders are chosen. Without the Constitution, there would be no clear plan for how the government should work.

The Constitution also defines the powers of government. It tells what the government can do and what it cannot do. It gives certain powers to Congress, to the President, and to the courts. This helps prevent any one part of the government from becoming too strong.

The Constitution defines the parts of government. It creates three main branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch has different duties. This system helps keep balance and fairness in the government.

Finally, the Constitution protects the rights of the people. It lists important freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. These rights help protect citizens from unfair actions by the government. The Constitution makes sure the government respects the people’s rights.

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 18

Learn more: 

USCIS.gov: Tools, N-400, USCIS YouTube playlists

USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

USCIS One Nation, One People (2025 Version)

USCIS 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

USCIS One Nation, One People (2024) original fomat | single page reformat

Boundless: Citizenship and Naturalization

ELLII: Principles of American Government study pack

USA Hello: Citizenship

USA Learns: Citizenship (see teacher for code)

USCIS 128:02. What is the supreme law of the land?

OpenAI. (2026). What is the supreme law of the land? [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The supreme law of the land in the United States is the U.S. Constitution. This means the Constitution is the highest law in the country. All people and all parts of the government must follow it. No law is more important than the Constitution.

The Constitution explains how the government works. It tells us the powers of Congress, the President, and the courts. It also explains how new laws are made and how leaders are chosen. This helps keep the government organized and fair.

The Constitution also protects the rights of the people. It lists important freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. If a law goes against the Constitution, the courts can stop it. In this way, the Constitution guides the nation and protects everyone’s rights. 

Learn more: 

USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

One Nation, One People (2025 Version)

USCIS 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

One Nation, One People (2024) original fomat | single page reformat

FLASH CARDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR THE 2025 CIVICS TEST

 FLASH CARDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR THE 2025 CIVICS TEST

(from Maya East Bay Sanctuary Covenant)

I want to offer a resource I created for citizenship programs. I work at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and I coordinate and teach classes for our citizenship preparation program. I saw the need for flashcards for the new test, so I made them!

Below I'm sharing more information about the flashcards and how to print them for your programs.

You can view the 2025 civics flashcards set here. They are in English with Spanish translations below. I made the designs in Google Slides and printed them as flashcards for our students and clients. Here is a video tour of the printed cards.

Why I created these: As you likely already know, the new test is significantly harder, and I have heard directly from a USCIS liaison that the government has no current plans to create or distribute study resources. I saw a clear need to develop a highly visual, simple study tool that would fill that gap. Now I'm hoping to share it as widely as possible.

My approach: In developing the slides/flashcards, I chose the simplest answer possible for each question and included only that answer to avoid overwhelm. I tried to include thoughtful and engaging visuals and categorized the questions as "simple" and "challenging." I flagged all the questions that are geography/time-dependent so they can be modified as needed by other instructors.

How to print/logistics: The slide deck is already formatted as 4"x6" so the cards are print ready. Here's a simple instructions page that walks you through the process of making a print order of the flashcards with Greener Printer. I printed an order of 60 flashcard sets and it cost a little under $10 per pack. The cards are expensive, and unfortunately a lot more than the free government-issued flashcards we were getting previously, but maybe some organizations can take student donations or just buy a couple of classroom sets.

Please let me know if you have questions and if you do end up using this resource. Feel free to share widely with your network and let me know if there are other organizations or listservs you'd recommend I share with. It took me a long time to develop these and I haven't seen another similar resource, yet, so I'm hoping to be able to distribute them as widely as possible to help programs and individuals adapt to this new, more challenging civics test.

You can find all of the resources I've linked to above in this Google Drive folder.

Thank you for your time and for all you do for your programs.

In solidarity,

Maya Kandell <maya@eastbaysanctuary.org>

#citizenship #naturalization #immigration #civics #128questions #USCIS

USCIS 128:01. What is the form of government of the United States?

OpenAI. (2026). What is the form of government of the United States? [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI. Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States has a republic form of government. This means the people choose their leaders by voting in elections. The leaders do not rule for life. They serve for a limited time and must follow the law. The government works for the people, and the people have the power to change leaders through peaceful elections.

The United States is also a constitution-based federal republic. This means the Constitution is the highest law of the country. It explains how the government works and what rights the people have. The word federal means power is shared between the national government and the state governments. Each level has its own duties, such as making laws, collecting taxes, and providing services.

The United States is a representative democracy. This means citizens do not vote on every law themselves. Instead, they elect representatives, such as members of Congress and the President, to make decisions for them. These representatives must listen to the people and can be voted out of office if they do not do their job well.

Learn more: 

USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

One Nation, One People (2025 Version)

USCIS 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

One Nation, One People (2024) original fomat | single page reformat

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

Photo by Jennifer, All rights reserved.

The civil rights movement was a time when many people worked together to end racial discrimination and unfair treatment in the United States (USCIS 128:112). They wanted everyone to have the same rights and opportunities, no matter their race or skin color. 

One of the most important leaders of this movement was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He is famous for fighting for civil rights and for working for equality for all Americans. He gave powerful speeches and led peaceful protests to bring change. Dr. King believed that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, and his ideas helped make the country more fair and just (USCIS 128:113).

Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal hoiday on the third Monday in January (USCIS 128:126). People celebrate with marches, parades, concerts, speeches, and school programs. The day is also a National Day of Service, called “a day on, not a day off,” which means people are encouraged to volunteer and help their community. Many people support Black- and minority-owned businesses and talk with their families about equality. These activities honor Dr. King’s dream of a fair and caring “beloved community” and his work for civil rights, economic justice, and peace.

Learn more about his life and works at the U.S. Citizenship Resources for Martin Luther King, Jr Day page.

Minnesota celebrates new Naturalized U.S. citizens by holding ceremony celebrations

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul: Minnesota celebrates new Naturalized U.S. citizens by holding ceremony celebrations 

Nearly 200 immigrants from more than two dozen countries swore their allegiance to the United States at the federal courthouse in St. Paul on Friday, becoming naturalized U.S. citizens. Ask

Happy Birthday Benjamin Franklin!

 

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was a leading figure in early American history who made lasting contributions to the nation. 

He served as a U.S. diplomat, helped write the Declaration of Independence, and was the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention. Franklin was the first Postmaster General of the United States, a respected inventor, and the author of Poor Richard’s Almanac. He also promoted education and public access to knowledge by founding the first free public libraries in America. 

As leading Founding Father, he is known as "the First American" because he helped make the Thirteen Colonies into one nation.

Learn more:

LOC.gov: Benjamin Franklin, the Pragmatic Innovator

PBS: Benjamin Franklin | A Film by Kens Burns video playlist

PDS Learning Media: Who was Benjamin Frankin?

USCIS: Benjamin Franklin

USCIS: A More Perfect Union: Memorial to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

POP Quiz: 

100:68.  What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

128:85.   Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one. 

National Religious Freedom Day

Religious Freedom Day remembers the day the Virginia General Assembly approved the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. 

The law was written by Thomas Jefferson and later guided through the legislature by James Madison. 

This statute became the foundation for the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of religion for all Americans.

USCIS Civics:

100:10.  What is freedom of religion?  

▪  You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

100:51.  What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?  

▪  freedom of expression  ▪  freedom of speech  ▪  freedom of assembly  ▪  freedom to petition the government  ▪  freedom of religion  ▪  the right to bear arms

100:58.  What is one reason colonists came to America?  

▪  freedom  ▪  political liberty  ▪  religious freedom  ▪  economic opportunity  ▪  practice their religion  ▪  escape persecution

128:65.   What are three rights of everyone living in the United States? 

• Freedom of expression • Freedom of speech • Freedom of assembly • Freedom to petition the government • Freedom of religion • The right to bear arms

128:73.   The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one. 

• Freedom • Political liberty • Religious freedom • Economic opportunity • Escape persecution

128:87.   Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one. 

• Writer of the Declaration of Independence • Third president of the United States • Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase) • First Secretary of State • Founded the University of Virginia • Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom

Happy Birthday Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Learn more about his life and works at the U.S. Citizenship Resources for Martin Luther King, Jr Day page.