Rights for Everyone vs. Rights Only for Citizens: Q6, Q64 and Q65 on the Civics Test

Two questions on the 2025 civics test sound almost the same but have opposite answers. One asks about rights of everyone living in the United States. The other asks what only citizens can do. If you mix them up and answer “vote” to the first one, the answer is wrong, even though voting is an important right.

This post puts the three “rights” questions side by side: Q65, Q64 and Q6. It shows where each answer comes from and how to keep them apart.

The three questions at a glance

Answers are from the USCIS 2025 Civics Test, 128 Questions and Answers (PDF).

Q65: three rights of everyone living in the United States

Q65 asks for three, so you need to say three answers from the list. Two isn’t enough, and the officer may ask you to add one more.

Almost all of the answers come from one sentence, the First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The last answer, the right to bear arms, comes from the Second Amendment. Both amendments are part of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments, ratified in 1791 (National Archives transcript).

Easiest three to say: “Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly.” All three start with “freedom of,” so they are easy to remember as a group.

Memory trick: the First Amendment freedoms spell R-A-P-S: Religion, Assembly, Petition, Speech. Add the 2nd Amendment (bear arms) if you want a backup.

Q65 traps

• “Vote” or “the right to vote” is not a Q65 answer. Voting in federal elections is a citizen right, which is Q64.
• “Freedom of the press” is in the First Amendment, but it isn’t on the USCIS answer list for Q65. Pick answers from the list.
• “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is from the Declaration of Independence (Q11), not the Bill of Rights. Don’t use it for Q65.
• Only two answers. Practice saying three every time.

Q64: what only citizens can do

Q64 bundles three things into one question. The answer to all three is the same word: citizens.

Safe answer: “U.S. citizens.” Short and complete.

This question matters for your N-400 too. Part 9 of Form N-400 asks if you have ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen or voted in a federal, state or local election. Until you take the oath, don’t register to vote or vote, even if someone at a store or a DMV offers you a voter form. See green card holders and illegal-voting charges.

After your oath, these become your rights. Many ceremonies offer voter registration right after the oath (voter registration at ceremonies).

Q6: what the Bill of Rights protects

Q6 is the easy one. The short answer is “the basic rights of Americans” or “the basic rights of people living in the United States.” Either is correct.

Notice the second answer says people living in the United States. That’s the same idea as Q65: many protections in the Bill of Rights use words like “the people” and “person,” not “citizen.” That’s why Q65 says “everyone.”

How the questions connect

Bill of Rights (Q6)  →  protects rights of PEOPLE living in the U.S.
   ├─ 1st Amendment  →  speech, expression, assembly, petition, religion  (Q65)
   └─ 2nd Amendment  →  bear arms                                         (Q65)

Citizens only (Q64)  →  vote in federal elections, run for federal office, serve on a jury
   └─ Voting amendments (Q63): 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th describe who can vote

For the voting amendments, see voting amendments on the civics test. For the numbers of every amendment on the test, see amendments by number.

Related questions people mix in

• Q63. Four amendments about who can vote. These describe citizens (for example, “Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote”). Don’t use them for Q65.
• Q66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? The United States / the flag.
• Q67. Promises in the Oath of Allegiance, for example obey the laws of the United States. Promises are responsibilities, not Q65 rights.
• Q69 and Q70. Civic participation and ways to serve. Here “vote” is a correct answer.

30-second drill (say it out loud)

1. Three rights of everyone living in the U.S.? → Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly.
2. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office and serve on a jury? → U.S. citizens.
3. What does the Bill of Rights protect? → The basic rights of Americans.
4. Is “the right to vote” a right of everyone? → No. Federal voting is for citizens (Q64).
5. Which amendment has freedom of speech and religion? → The First Amendment.

Do it twice a day for three days and the pair stops being confusing. More look-alike pairs are in commonly confused civics answers, and the bigger picture is in rights and responsibilities of citizens.

Practice them

• Drill Q6, Q64 and Q65 on the free civics practice test or take a full 20-question test.
• Hear the questions and answer out loud in Listen mode.
• Making flashcards? Put Q64 and Q65 back to back so you review them together (3-box flashcard method).

Sources: USCIS, 2025 Civics Test, 128 Questions and Answers (PDF) (Q6, Q63–Q70); USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 2 (civics test); National Archives, The Bill of Rights: A Transcription; U.S. Constitution, Art. I §2 and §3 and Art. II §1 (citizenship requirements for federal office); 18 U.S.C. 611 (voting by noncitizens); 28 U.S.C. 1865 (juror qualifications); USCIS Form N-400, edition 01/20/25, Part 9. Photo: Susana Raab / U.S. National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

CitizenExams is an independent study site and is not affiliated with USCIS. This post is general information, not legal advice.