USCIS 128:10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

OpenAI. (2026). Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Two important ideas in the Declaration of Independence are equality and natural rights. The Declaration says that all people are created equal. This means no one is born better than another person. It also says people have natural rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights come from being human, not from the government, and the government must respect them.

Two important ideas in the U.S. Constitution are limited government and self-government. Limited government means the government has rules and cannot use unlimited power. The Constitution explains what the government can and cannot do. Self-government means the people choose their leaders and take part in making laws, usually by voting. This shows that the government works for the people, not the other way around.

Another shared idea is liberty and the social contract. Liberty means freedom, such as freedom of speech and religion. The social contract means people agree to follow laws, and in return, the government agrees to protect their rights. These ideas help explain how the United States balances freedom, laws, and responsibility.

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 19

• 01 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 
• N-400 2024 Practice Interview: Part 9 Detailed Review
• Questions 1 and 2: General 2008-100qs | 2025-128qs (temporary link only--will be updated)
• CA State | local officials 2025 pdf
• Citizenship Interview Quiz for Hushang Ansary pdf
  
• USA Learn videos:
• Setting up your USCIS account: https://youtu.be/Y5bWcSrTytw
• Intro to the N-400 online- https://youtu.be/j-EEfIDAazo
• Creating an email account: https://youtu.be/3Goo6ZA3NXM
• Filing the N-400 Online - getting started: https://youtu.be/xMCTsg9zRo4
• Filing the N-400 Online - about you: https://youtu.be/Y1W8qcZ1Pw4
• The N-400 online: your family - https://youtu.be/DoreHJ-9lfo
• Tracking your case - https://youtu.be/XXV2pP7uEl8

USCIS 128:09. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

OpenAI. (2026). What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The founding document that said the American colonies were free from Britain is the Declaration of Independence. It was written in 1776, when the colonies decided they no longer wanted to be ruled by the British king. In this document, the leaders explained why they wanted to form a new, independent country.

The Declaration of Independence announced that the colonies were now separate from Great Britain. It said that people have basic rights, such as life and freedom, and that governments must protect these rights. This document helped create the United States as a free and independent nation.

USCIS 128:08. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

OpenAI. (2026). Why is the Declaration of Independence important?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Declaration of Independence is important because it explains why the American colonies wanted to be free from British rule. It says that the colonies are no longer under the control of Great Britain and can govern themselves. This document helped create a new, independent nation.

The Declaration also says that all people are created equal. This means that every person has the same basic value and dignity. No one is born better than another, and everyone deserves respect.

It explains that people have inherent rights. These are rights that belong to every person by birth, not given by a government. The Declaration names important rights, such as life and liberty, that no one should take away.

Finally, the Declaration identifies individual freedoms. It says that people should be free to make choices about their own lives and to seek happiness. These ideas became the foundation for American laws and rights.

USCIS 128:07 How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

OpenAI. (2026). How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States Constitution has twenty-seven amendments. An amendment is a change or an addition to the Constitution. These amendments help improve the law and protect people’s rights.

The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They protect basic freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial. The other amendments were added later to solve new problems and make the Constitution stronger.

Even today, Congress and the states can add new amendments if many people agree. This shows that the Constitution can change when the country changes.

USCIS 128:06. What does the Bill of Rights protect?

OpenAI. (2026). What does the Bill of Rights protect?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of Americans. These rights are important freedoms that help people live safely and freely. For example, the Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial. These rights limit the power of the government.

The Bill of Rights also protects the basic rights of people living in the United States. These protections are not only for citizens. Many rights apply to all people in the country, such as the right to due process and protection from unfair punishment. In this way, the Bill of Rights helps protect everyone’s freedom and dignity.

USCIS 128:05. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

OpenAI. (2026). How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Changes to the U.S. Constitution are made through amendments. An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution. Amendments help update the Constitution when the country’s needs change. For example, some amendments protect new rights or improve how the government works.

The amendment process has two main steps: proposal and ratification. First, an amendment must be proposed by Congress or by the states. In most cases, two-thirds of both the House and the Senate must agree to propose it.

Next, the amendment must be approved by the states. Three-fourths of the states must vote yes for the amendment to become part of the Constitution. This careful process makes sure that only important and widely supported changes are added to the Constitution.

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

 

Updates for Citizenship Prep

CATESOL Refugee Interest Group 2026-01-23 Coffee Chat  pdf

Jennifer Gagliardi

jgagliardi@scoe.net

Teaching U.S. Citizenship Prep 2026

bit.ly/uscit-padlet

More immigation resources

USCIS 128:04. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

OpenAI. (2026). The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Constitution begins with the words “We the People.” This means the power of the government comes from the people. The people are the true owners of the government. Leaders do not rule by force. They rule because the people choose them.

This idea is called self-government and popular sovereignty. Self-government means people govern themselves. Popular sovereignty means the people are the highest authority in the country. Through voting and elections, citizens decide who will make laws and lead the nation.

“We the People” also shows the consent of the governed. This means the government exists only because the people agree to it. When citizens follow the law and vote, they give their permission for the government to act.

This idea is like a social contract. The people agree to follow the laws, and the government agrees to protect their rights. In this way, the people and the government work together to govern the country.

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

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.

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