Amendment
A formal change or addition to the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution can be changed when enough states agree. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution has been amended 27 times in total.
Citizenship Glossary.
Plain-language definitions of the terms you'll see on the N-400, in your interview, and across the civics test. No legalese.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
These amendments protect individual freedoms — speech, religion, assembly, the right to bear arms, the right to a fair trial, and protection from unreasonable searches. They were ratified in 1791.
Checks and balances
A system that lets each branch of government limit the power of the other two.
Congress can pass laws, but the President can veto them. The Supreme Court can strike them down if they violate the Constitution. No single branch can act alone.
Civics test
The portion of the USCIS naturalization interview that tests your knowledge of U.S. government, history, and symbols.
A USCIS officer asks questions out loud from a list of 128 official questions. Most applicants must answer 6 out of 10 correctly to pass.
Civil rights
The rights that protect individuals from discrimination by the government and ensure equal treatment under the law.
Civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, and protection from discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s expanded these protections.
Constitution
The supreme law of the United States — the document that defines the structure of the federal government and the rights of citizens.
Written in 1787 and ratified in 1788, the Constitution sets up three branches of government, lists the powers each branch has, and protects individual rights through its amendments.
Continuous residence
A USCIS requirement to live in the United States as a permanent resident without long absences before applying for citizenship.
Most applicants must show 5 years of continuous residence (3 years if married to a U.S. citizen). Trips abroad of 6 months or more can break continuous residence and reset the clock.
Electoral College
The system used to elect the U.S. President — voters in each state choose electors, and the electors formally cast the votes that decide the election.
There are 538 electors total. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Most states give all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote.
Federalism
The system that splits power between the national (federal) government and the state governments.
Some powers belong only to the federal government (like printing money). Some belong only to the states (like running schools). Some are shared (like taxing).
Good moral character
A USCIS standard requiring applicants to demonstrate honest, lawful behavior during the years before applying for citizenship.
USCIS reviews your record for crimes, fraud, lying on government forms, and failure to pay taxes or child support. Most applicants need to show good moral character for the 5 years before applying (3 years if married to a U.S. citizen).
Green card
The common name for a Permanent Resident Card — proof that someone is a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Green card holders can live and work in the U.S. permanently and may apply for citizenship after meeting residence and other requirements. The card itself is mostly green, which is how it got its nickname.
N-400
The official USCIS form used to apply for U.S. citizenship.
The N-400 asks for your biographical information, immigration history, residence history, employment, and answers to questions about good moral character. You file it with USCIS along with the filing fee and supporting documents.
Naturalization
The legal process by which a foreign-born person becomes a U.S. citizen.
Naturalization includes filing the N-400, attending biometrics, passing the English and civics tests at an interview, and taking the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony.
Naturalization ceremony
The official event where new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance and receive their Certificate of Naturalization.
The ceremony is the final step. After taking the oath, you are a U.S. citizen — you can apply for a U.S. passport, vote in federal elections, and petition for relatives to immigrate.
Oath of Allegiance
The promise new citizens make to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and laws of the United States.
The Oath includes giving up loyalty to other countries, supporting the Constitution, and being willing to perform civilian or military service when required by law. You take the Oath at the naturalization ceremony.
Permanent resident
A non-citizen who has been granted the right to live and work in the United States permanently.
Permanent residents (also called green card holders) can apply for citizenship after meeting residence requirements — usually 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.
Physical presence
A USCIS requirement that you have actually been inside the United States for a specific number of days before applying for citizenship.
Most applicants must show physical presence in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the 5 years before applying (or 18 months out of 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen). This is separate from continuous residence.
Selective Service
The U.S. system that registers men for possible military draft.
All male U.S. citizens and male immigrants between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to register with Selective Service. Failure to register can affect a citizenship application.
Separation of powers
The division of the federal government into three branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — each with its own role.
Congress (legislative) makes laws. The President (executive) carries them out. The Supreme Court (judicial) interprets them. The idea is that no one branch can become too powerful.
USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — the federal agency that handles immigration benefits, including naturalization.
USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security. It processes the N-400, schedules biometrics, conducts the citizenship interview, and approves naturalization. Their official site is uscis.gov.
These definitions are written for study purposes and use plain language to help applicants understand the USCIS naturalization process. For the official source on any term, visit uscis.gov. MyCitizenPrep is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.