Civics is half of the GED Social Studies test, and its questions recycle a finite set of facts. The fastest way to own them is retrieval practice: see the question, say the answer, check the line. Below are fifty items in the same style the exam uses, grouped so related facts reinforce each other. Cover the answers, run the set cold, then re-run only the misses the next day. Two passes a day for a week and civics stops being study material and becomes background knowledge.
The Constitution and Founding
- What document replaced the Articles of Confederation? The Constitution, drafted in 1787.
- How many articles does the Constitution have? Seven.
- What are the first ten amendments called? The Bill of Rights.
- Which amendment abolished slavery? The Thirteenth.
- Which granted citizenship and equal protection? The Fourteenth.
- Which prohibited racial restrictions on voting? The Fifteenth.
- Which gave women the right to vote? The Nineteenth, ratified 1920.
- What principle divides power among branches? Separation of powers.
- What returns unused powers to the states? The Tenth Amendment.
- What is federalism? Shared power between national and state governments.
- Who signs a bill into law? The president.
- Who proposed the Bill of Rights? James Madison.
- What founding idea holds rights come from government? Consent of the governed, from the Declaration.
- How many amendments exist now? Twenty-seven.
- What is judicial review? The courts' power to strike down unconstitutional laws, established in Marbury v. Madison.
The Three Branches
- How many members does the House have? 438 voting members.
- How many senators? One hundred, two per state.
- Who declares war? Congress.
- Who commands the military? The president.
- Who confirms judges? The Senate.
- What is a presidential veto override? Two-thirds vote in both chambers.
- How long do House terms last? Two years.
- How long do Senate terms last? Six years.
- How long do Supreme Court justices serve? Life terms, during good behavior.
- Who leads the executive branch? The president.
- Who are a president's principal advisors? The cabinet.
- What do federal agencies do? Enforce and administer laws.
- Which chamber originates revenue bills? The House.
- What is impeachment? A formal charge by the House, tried by the Senate.
- Who presides over a Senate impeachment trial? The chief justice, for presidential impeachments.
Rights, Elections, and Civics in Practice
- What does the First Amendment protect? Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.
- What right does the Second cover? Keeping and bearing arms.
- What does the Fourth protect? Against unreasonable searches and seizures.
- What does the Fifth guarantee? Due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination protection.
- What does the Sixth guarantee? Speedy, public trial by an impartial jury.
- Who must be represented by a lawyer if indigent? Criminal defendants - Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- What does the Eighth prohibit? Cruel and unusual punishment, excessive bail.
- Who can vote in federal elections? Citizens eighteen and older.
- How long must a citizen reside nationally to vote for president? There is no national residency requirement beyond state rules - eighteen plus citizenship.
- How often are House elections held? Every two years.
- What is the Electoral College? The system of state apportioned electors who formally choose the president.
- How many electoral votes are needed to win? A majority: 270 of 538.
- What does the Twenty-Second Amendment do? Limits presidents to two terms.
- What branch interprets laws? The judicial branch.
- What branch writes laws? The legislative branch.
- What branch enforces laws? The executive branch.
- What is a primary? An election that nominates party candidates.
- What does the First Amendment's right to petition seek? Redress of grievances from government.
- What does the Twenty-Sixth Amendment do? Lowered the voting age to eighteen.
- What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution, per Article VI's Supremacy Clause.
GED Civics Practice - Frequently Asked Questions
How much of GED Social Studies is civics?
About 50 percent of the 46 questions on the 70-minute test. Constitution, branches, rights, and elections dominate - exactly what this set drills.
Do GED civics questions match the USCIS naturalization test?
There is overlap (amendments, branches, rights), but the GED leans analytical - which branch, which check, which amendment - while the citizenship test favors bare recall. Use both; the format here mirrors the GED's.
How long until I know all fifty?
A week of two-a-day passes works for most candidates. Say answers aloud before checking - passive eye-moves through the list will not survive test day.
Civics anchors the whole social studies half - follow with branches and checks, then the Social Studies help page for the blueprint. If fifty questions sound like fifty too many, talk to a professional test taker about sitting the exam for you - confidential, 98.6% pass rate.