Question 53 of 100 · 2008 civics test
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
From the 100-question list, the version for applications filed before October 20, 2025.
Accepted answers
- give up loyalty to other countries
- defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
- obey the laws of the United States
- serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
- serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
- be loyal to the United States
Any one of these is accepted, unless the question asks for more than one.
Why this is the answer
The promises are the ones in the Oath of Allegiance, the final step of naturalization, and naming any single one answers the question. In the oath you renounce allegiance to any foreign state, you swear to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, and you promise to bear arms, to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces, or to do work of national importance under civilian direction, when the law requires it. You also declare you are taking the obligation freely. Congress has set the rules for naturalization since the country's founding, and several of the old requirements survive, among them good moral character. Memory hook: give up the old allegiance, defend the Constitution, serve if the law calls.