TL;DR

The rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens are a core topic on the civics test for naturalization. The test draws a clear line between what belongs only to citizens and what belongs to everyone living in the United States. Two rights are only for U.S. citizens: the right to vote in a federal election and the right to run for federal office. Two responsibilities are only for U.S. citizens: serving on a jury and voting in a federal election. By contrast, certain rights belong to everyone living in the U.S., citizen or not — including freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, the freedom to petition the government, and the right to bear arms. Becoming a citizen also involves promises: at the naturalization ceremony a new citizen takes the Oath of Allegiance, in which they promise to give up loyalty to other countries, support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States, and be loyal to the United States. The test also covers ways citizens and residents participate in democracy — voting, joining a political party, helping with a campaign, contacting elected officials — and shared civic duties such as registering for the Selective Service and filing federal income taxes. The Pledge of Allegiance shows loyalty to the United States and the flag.

Why This Topic Is on the Test

The civics test is meant to confirm that someone applying for citizenship understands the fundamentals of American government and civic life. Rights and responsibilities are central to that, because citizenship is not only a status — it carries both protections and obligations. Several civics questions ask an applicant to identify what citizens may do, what they must do, and what promises they make. This topic sits within the broader civics material covered in the complete citizenship exam study guide.

The single most important idea in this topic is a distinction the test returns to repeatedly: some rights and responsibilities belong only to citizens, while others belong to everyone living in the United States. Getting that line right is what most of the questions in this area come down to.

Rights Only for U.S. Citizens

A few important rights are reserved for U.S. citizens and are not held by non-citizens, even those living lawfully in the country. The civics test identifies two rights only for United States citizens:

When a civics question asks for a right that belongs only to citizens, either of these is a correct answer. The common thread is participation in federal elections — both casting a vote and standing as a candidate.

Responsibilities Only for U.S. Citizens

Alongside reserved rights, the test identifies responsibilities that fall only on citizens. The civics test identifies two responsibilities that are only for United States citizens:

Noticing that voting shows up on both lists is useful: if a question asks for a citizen right, voting in a federal election works; if it asks for a citizen responsibility, voting in a federal election also works. Serving on a jury, by contrast, is specifically a responsibility.

Rights of Everyone Living in the United States

Many fundamental rights are not limited to citizens — they belong to everyone living in the United States, regardless of citizenship status. The civics test asks applicants to name two rights of everyone living in the United States, and the accepted answers include:

These freedoms trace back to the protections in the Bill of Rights — the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The key exam point is the contrast: voting in a federal election and running for federal office are citizen-only rights, while freedoms like speech, religion, and assembly belong to everyone living in the country. A question that asks for a right "of everyone" is answered with one of the freedoms above, never with voting in a federal election.

The Promises a New Citizen Makes

Becoming a citizen through naturalization involves making promises, and the civics test asks about them. At the naturalization ceremony, a new citizen takes the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. The test asks applicants to identify the promises contained in that oath. The promises a new citizen makes include:

When a question asks for a promise a new citizen makes, any of these is correct. The Oath of Allegiance is the formal moment when these promises are made, and it is taken in English at the ceremony. Related to loyalty, the test also asks what Americans show loyalty to when they say the Pledge of Allegiance — the answer is the United States and the flag.

Participating in Democracy and Shared Civic Duties

The civics test also covers the everyday ways people take part in American democracy and the duties shared across the community.

Ways to participate in democracy. The test asks applicants to name ways Americans can participate in their democracy or examples of civic participation. Accepted answers include: vote, join a political party, help with a campaign, join a civic or community group, give an elected official your opinion on an issue, call senators and representatives, publicly support or oppose an issue or policy, and run for office. Participation is broader than voting alone — it covers many forms of civic engagement.

Shared civic duties. Some obligations apply broadly to people in the United States, not only to citizens. Two appear on the civics test. Filing federal income tax forms when required is a civic obligation, and the test asks about the last day federal income tax forms can be sent in. Registering for the Selective Service is required of most males in the covered age range — generally 18 through 25 — and the civics test asks when men must register. These are duties that the test treats as part of civic life in the United States.

How This Topic Is Tested

Rights and responsibilities questions on the civics test concentrate on a few reliable patterns. First, and most important, the citizen-only versus everyone distinction: a question asks for a right or responsibility "only for citizens" (vote in a federal election, run for federal office, serve on a jury) or a right "of everyone living in the U.S." (freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the others). Second, the promises of citizenship: identifying a promise in the Oath of Allegiance. Third, the Pledge of Allegiance: that it shows loyalty to the United States and the flag. Fourth, civic participation: naming ways Americans take part in democracy. Fifth, shared duties: the Selective Service and federal income taxes.

A reliable way to handle these questions: when a question mentions a right or responsibility, first ask whether it says "only for citizens" or "everyone." If "only for citizens," the answer involves federal elections or jury service; if "everyone," the answer is one of the basic freedoms. That single check resolves most questions in this topic.

Common Misconceptions

  1. "Freedom of speech is a right only for U.S. citizens." False. Freedom of speech — along with freedom of religion, assembly, expression, petition, and the right to bear arms — is a right of everyone living in the United States, not only citizens.
  2. "Voting in a federal election is open to anyone living in the U.S." False. Voting in a federal election is a right and a responsibility reserved for U.S. citizens. Running for federal office is also citizen-only.
  3. "Voting is only a right, not a responsibility." False. On the civics test, voting in a federal election appears as both a right of citizens and a responsibility of citizens.
  4. "The Oath of Allegiance doesn't require giving up loyalty to your former country." False. One of the promises a new citizen makes in the Oath of Allegiance is to give up loyalty to other countries.
  5. "Participating in democracy means only voting." False. Civic participation includes many activities — joining a political party, helping with a campaign, contacting elected officials, joining community groups, running for office, and more.

Bottom Line

The rights and responsibilities topic turns on one distinction the civics test tests repeatedly: what belongs only to citizens versus what belongs to everyone living in the United States. Voting in a federal election and running for federal office are citizen-only rights; serving on a jury and voting in a federal election are citizen-only responsibilities. Freedoms like speech, religion, assembly, expression, petition, and the right to bear arms belong to everyone. New citizens make promises through the Oath of Allegiance — giving up loyalty to other countries, defending and obeying U.S. law, and being loyal to the United States — and the Pledge of Allegiance shows loyalty to the United States and the flag. The test also covers civic participation beyond voting and shared duties like the Selective Service and federal income taxes. On the test, ask "citizens only, or everyone?" first — that answers most of these questions. From here, the natural next topics are state and local government and what to expect at the naturalization interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

What rights are only for U.S. citizens?
The civics test identifies two rights that are only for United States citizens: the right to vote in a federal election and the right to run for federal office. Both involve participation in federal elections — casting a vote and standing as a candidate — and neither is held by non-citizens.
What responsibilities are only for U.S. citizens?
The civics test identifies two responsibilities that are only for United States citizens: serving on a jury and voting in a federal election. Voting appears as both a right and a responsibility of citizens. Serving on a jury is specifically a citizen responsibility.
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Rights of everyone living in the United States — citizen or not — include freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. Any two of these answer the civics test question. These freedoms are not limited to citizens.
What promises does a new citizen make?
At the naturalization ceremony, a new citizen takes the Oath of Allegiance and promises to give up loyalty to other countries, support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States, obey U.S. laws, serve in the military or do important work for the nation if needed, and be loyal to the United States. Any of these is a correct answer on the civics test.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
When Americans say the Pledge of Allegiance, they show loyalty to the United States and to the flag. Both answers are accepted on the civics test.
What are some ways to participate in American democracy?
Ways to participate in democracy include voting, joining a political party, helping with a campaign, joining a civic or community group, giving an elected official your opinion on an issue, calling senators and representatives, publicly supporting or opposing a policy, and running for office. Civic participation is broader than voting alone.

Source: USCIS — Civics Questions and Answers · USCIS — Oath of Allegiance · USCIS — 2025 Civics Test