USCIS 128:40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

OpenAI. (2026).  If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

During the naturalization interview, the officer may ask, “If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?” This question checks if you understand how the government continues to work if there is a problem.

If the President dies, resigns, or cannot do the job, the Vice President becomes President. This rule helps keep the government stable and organized. There is always someone ready to lead the country.

This process is part of the U.S. system of government. It makes sure there is no gap in leadership and that the country continues to function smoothly.

USCIS 128:39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

OpenAI. (2026).  What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Vice President of the United States has several important duties in the federal government.

First, the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate. This means the Vice President works with the legislative branch. The Vice President does not vote in the Senate unless there is a tie. If the senators are evenly divided, the Vice President casts the deciding vote.

Second, the Vice President is next in line to become President. If the President dies, resigns, or cannot continue in office, the Vice President becomes President.

The Vice President also supports the President by attending meetings, representing the United States at events, and helping carry out the administration’s policies.

During the naturalization interview, you may be asked, “What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?” This question checks if you know current leaders in the U.S. government. The Vice President can change after a national election, so the answer may be different over time.

To find the correct and most current answer, visit the official USCIS website. Go to uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. USCIS updates this page with the current name of the Vice President of the United States.  You can also find out more about the Vice President at whitehouse.gov/administration/.

Before your interview, check the website again to make sure you have the correct name. Practice saying it clearly. Reviewing the official source will help you answer confidently during your interview.

The current Vice President of the United States is J.D. Vance.

USCIS 128:38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

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

The President of the United States is the leader of the executive branch of government. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States.

During your naturalization interview, the officer may ask, “What is the name of the President of the United States now?” This question checks if you know current information about the U.S. government. Because elections take place every four years, the President can change.

For the most accurate and updated answer, you should visit the official USCIS website. Go to uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. This page provides the current name of the President of the United States and other important test updates.  You can also find out more about the President at whitehouse.gov/administration/.

Before your interview, review this website carefully. Make sure you can say the President’s name clearly and confidently. Checking the official source will help you give the correct answer on the day of your interview.

The current President of the United States is Donald Trump.

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 22

 uscitizenpod: Kazi’s Second Practice Citizenship Interview

• 04 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
• N-400 Vocabulary Picture Quiz Part 9
• Question 6: Group Affiliation
• USCIS 100:26-36 System of Government (Part 2)
• 128 Executive Branch Quiz
• A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about the Branches of Gov’t Part 2 pdf

USCIS 128:37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

OpenAI. (2026).   The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The President of the United States can serve only two terms. This rule comes from the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. A term is four years, so a President can serve a maximum of eight years.

The 22nd Amendment was added to keep one person from staying in power for too long. It helps protect democracy by limiting how much power one President can have. This rule makes sure that leadership can change over time and that no President becomes too powerful.

 

USCIS 128:36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

OpenAI. (2026).   The President of the United States is elected for how many years?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The President of the United States is elected for four years. This four-year period is called a term. During this time, the President leads the executive branch and carries out the laws of the country.

After four years, the people vote again in a national election. A President can be elected for a second four-year term, but no one can serve more than two terms. This means the longest a person can serve as President is eight years.

 

USCIS 128:35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

OpenAI. (2026).   Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives. These seats are divided among the states based on population. This means representation is based on how many people live in each state.

Some states have more representatives than others. States with more people receive more representatives. States with fewer people receive fewer representatives.

Every ten years, the United States counts the population in a census. After the census, the number of representatives for each state may change. If a state’s population grows, it may gain a representative. If its population becomes smaller compared to other states, it may lose one. This system helps make sure that the House represents the people fairly.

USCIS 128:34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who elects members of the House of Representatives?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Members of the House of Representatives are elected by citizens who live in their congressional district. A congressional district is a specific area inside a state. Each district has about the same number of people. Only the citizens who live in that district can vote for their representative.

During an election, citizens choose the person they want to represent them in the House. The candidate who receives the most votes wins. This means the representative is chosen directly by the people in that district. Their job is to speak for those citizens in Congress.

 

Incorporating Digital Literacy in an Adult Citizenship Curriculum

Incorporating Digital Literacy in an Adult Citizenship Curriculum: Life, Citizenship, the Pursuit of Digital Literacy google slides | pdf

CCAE Bay Area

San Mateo Adult School, 2026-02-22

JENNIFER GAGLIARDI

OTAN SME

jgagliardi@scoe.net

Based on original presentation by

SHAWN CHAKRABARTI

Topics for Citizenship Prep 2026

Topics for Citizenship Prep 2026 google slides | pdf
CCAE Bay Area Conference 
San Mateo Adult School 2/22/2026 
Jennifer Gagliardi jgagliardi@scoe.net 
Teaching U.S. Citizenship Prep 2026 bit.ly/uscit-padlet

USCIS 128:33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

OpenAI. (2026).    Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A member of the House of Representatives represents the people who live in their congressional district. A congressional district is a specific area inside a state. Each state is divided into districts based on population. People who live in each district vote to choose one person to represent them in the House.

The representative speaks and acts for the people in that district. They listen to their concerns, support laws that help their community, and vote on bills in Congress. Their job is to make sure the voices of the people in their district are heard in the federal government.

USCIS 128:32. Who elects U.S. senators?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who elects U.S. senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

U.S. senators are elected by the citizens of their state. This means that people who are registered to vote in a state choose their two senators during an election. Every state has two senators, and voters decide who will represent them in the U.S. Senate.

Before 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. However, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution changed this process. Now, citizens vote directly for their senators. This gives the people more power and allows them to choose leaders who represent their interests at the national level.

USCIS 128:31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who does a U.S. senator represent?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A U.S. senator represents the people of their entire state. This means a senator speaks for everyone who lives in that state, not just one city or one area.

Each state has two senators, and they work in Washington, D.C. Senators help write laws, vote on important issues, and represent their state’s interests in the federal government.

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff represent the state of California in the U.S. Senate.  Find your state's senators at senate.gov.

USCIS 128:30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

OpenAI. (2026).  What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Speaker of the House is an important government leader who helps manage the work of the House and leads the majority party.

Because the Speaker can change over time, the correct answer may be different depending on the year. To find the most current answer, you should visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. This page provides the updated name of the Speaker of the House for the civics test.

As of February 17, 2026, Mike Johnson (R LA-4) is the Speaker of the House.

USCIS 128:29. Name your U.S. representative.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name your U.S. representative.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Your U.S. House of Representative is elected to speak for your community and help make federal laws.

The correct answer depends on where you live, so answers will vary. To find your representative, you can visit house.gov and enter your ZIP code. The website will show the name of your current U.S. representative.

The current Speaker of the House is Mike Johnson (R) (LA-4).

USCIS 128: Why does each state have two senators?

OpenAI. (2026).  Why does each state have two senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

 Each state has two U.S. senators so that all states have equal representation in the Senate. This means small states and large states have the same number of senators. For example, a small state like Vermont has two senators, and a large state like California also has two senators. This system helps protect the voices of smaller states.

This idea comes from the Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise, made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The compromise created two parts of Congress: the Senate, where each state has equal representation, and the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population.

US Citizenship Resources for Presidents' Day post 

USCIS 128:27. How many senators does each state have?

OpenAI. (2026).  How many senators does each state have?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Each state has two U.S. senators. It does not matter if the state is large or small. Every state gets the same number of senators.

This system helps make representation fair in the Senate. Since there are 50 states, there are 100 senators total in the United States Senate.

USCIS 128:26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

OpenAI. (2026).  Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators because they are meant to stay closely connected to the people. A representative serves for two years, so voters can choose new representatives more often if they want change.

U.S. senators serve six-year terms, which are longer. The longer term helps senators focus on long-term national issues. The shorter term in the House makes the House of Representatives more responsive to the public and current events.

USCIS 128:25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

OpenAI. (2026).  How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A term for a member of the House of Representatives is two years. This means representatives serve for two years before they must run for re-election.

Because the term is short, members of the House are elected often. This helps the House stay closely connected to the people and allows voters to choose their representatives regularly.

USCIS 128:24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

OpenAI. (2026).  How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?  [AI-generated infographic]. Everviz.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The House of Representatives is one part of the U.S. Congress. It has 435 voting members. These members are called representatives.

As of February 2026, the congressional seating chart shows the 435 voting members in the U.S. House of Representatives. Each dot on the chart represents one member seated in the House. The dots are arranged in a half-circle to show how the House is organized.

In this chart, there are 214 Democratic members, shown as gray dots, and 218 Republican members, shown as black dots. The chart also shows three vacant seats, represented by light gray dots. These vacant seats mean that three House seats did not have an elected representative at that time.

The seating chart helps people quickly see which political party has more members. Since Republicans had 218 seats, they held a small majority in the House in February 2026.

USCIS 128:23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?

OpenAI. (2026).  Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The question “Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?” asks you to name one current U.S. senator from the state where you live. Each state has two U.S. senators, so you can answer with either name. Because senators change over time, the correct answer depends on your state, so answers will vary.

To find the correct answer, you can visit Senate.gov. On the website, use the drop-down menu to select your state. The names of your state’s current U.S. senators will appear.

If you live in Washington, D.C. or a U.S. territory (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), the answer is different. These places do not have U.S. senators. In that case, you should say that D.C. (or your territory) has no U.S. senators.

 

USCIS 128:22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

OpenAI. (2026).  How long is a term for a U.S. senator?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

 A term for a U.S. senator is six years. This means a senator serves in the Senate for six years before running for re-election.

Senators are elected on a regular schedule. Elections happen every two years, but not all senators run at the same time. About one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. This system helps the Senate stay stable while still allowing voters to choose new senators often.

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 128:21. How many U.S. senators are there?

OpenAI. (2026).  How many U.S. senators are there?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

There are 100 U.S. senators in the United States Senate. The Senate is one part of the U.S. Congress.

Each state has two senators, no matter how big or small the state is. Since there are 50 states, there are 100 senators total.

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 128:20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name one power of the U.S. Congress. *  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Congress has important powers in the federal government. One power of Congress is that it writes laws. Congress creates new laws to help run the country and protect the people.

Congress also has the power to declare war. This means Congress can decide when the United States will go to war. Another power of Congress is to make the federal budget, which means deciding how the government will spend money for things like schools, roads, and the military.

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 128:19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

OpenAI. (2026).  What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Congress has two parts. These two parts are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, they make the legislative branch of the federal government.

The Senate has two senators from each state. The House of Representatives has members based on the population of each state. Both parts work together to write and pass laws for the United States.

USCIS 128:18. What part of the federal government writes laws?

OpenAI. (2026).  What part of the federal government writes laws?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The part of the federal government that writes laws is the legislative branch. The legislative branch is also called Congress, which is also called the national legislature.

Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, they propose, write, and vote on new laws for the United States.

USCIS 128:17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

OpenAI. (2026).  The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The President of the United States is in charge of the executive branch of government. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States.

The president is the leader of the executive branch and works with the Cabinet and federal agencies. The president also serves as the Commander in Chief of the military and represents the country in foreign relations.

USCIS 128:16. Name the three branches of government.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name the three branches of government.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States government has three branches. They are the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch has a different job, which helps keep the government organized and fair.

The legislative branch is Congress. Congress makes the laws. The executive branch is the president. The president carries out and enforces the laws. The judicial branch is the courts. The courts interpret the laws and decide if laws follow the Constitution.

USCIS 128:15. There are three branches of government. Why?

 

OpenAI. (2026). There are three branches of government. Why?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States has three branches of government so that no single part becomes too powerful. The founders wanted to protect freedom by dividing power among different branches. Each branch has its own job, which helps prevent abuse of power.

This system is called separation of powers. The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws. By separating these duties, the government works more fairly and carefully.

The branches also use checks and balances. This means each branch can limit the power of the others. For example, the president can veto laws, Congress can override vetoes, and courts can review laws. These limits help keep the government balanced and protect the rights of the people.

USCIS 128:14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

Icons from TheNounProject.com editid by Jennifer Gagliardi, 2026.

 Before 1600, the Iroquois Great Law of Peace showed how different Native American nations could work together under one system while keeping their own local governments. This idea later influenced American leaders and helped shape the concept of federalism, where power is shared between a central government and local governments.

In 1620, the Mayflower Compact was written by the Pilgrims before they settled in New England. It was an agreement to create laws and follow them for the good of the community. This document is an early example of self-government and majority rule in America.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, written in 1639, is often called the first written constitution in America. It explained how the government should work and said that leaders get their power from the people. This showed that government should be based on the will of the people.

In 1776, the Virginia Declaration of Rights stated that people are born with basic rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press. These ideas later influenced the creation of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Also in 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced that the American colonies were free from British rule. It explained the idea of natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Articles of Confederation, approved in 1781, created the first national government of the United States. However, it gave the central government very little power. Because the government was too weak, leaders later decided a new Constitution was needed.

Between 1787 and 1788, the Federalist Papers were written to support the new Constitution. These essays explained why a stronger national government was necessary and how the Constitution would protect the country.

At the same time, the Anti-Federalist Papers argued against the Constitution. The writers feared the government would become too powerful. Their concerns helped lead to the addition of the Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms.

USCIS 128:13. What is the rule of law?

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

The rule of law means that everyone must follow the law. Ordinary people, government workers, and leaders all have to obey the same laws. Laws apply to everyone in the country, not just some people. This helps keep order and fairness in society.

Under the rule of law, leaders and the government must also obey the law. No person or group has special power to ignore it. This means
no one is above the law. When laws are followed equally, people can trust the government and feel protected by the legal system.