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Review N400 Vocabulary

Oath of Citizenship

When a legal permanent resident becomes a citizen, they usually take an oath of citizenship. They come to USCIS or the court. They usually wear formal clothes.

The oath has many parts. In this class, we will practice the simple version of the oath. The real oath is more complicated.

I swear that I will not be loyal to any other country.

This means that your number one loyalty is for the United States. If you love your home country, you can continue to love it.

If you have to choose between the United States and your home country, this means the United States comes first.

I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S.

The Constitution is the form of government of the United States. This means you agree with the supreme law of the land. You agree to follow the laws.

I will defend the U.S. from enemies outside and inside the U.S.

In a time of war, the United States has enemies from other countries. Sometimes there are terrorists or other enemies inside the United States.

I will bear arms, carry a gun or fight, for the United States if asked.

Men age 18 to 26 must register for selective service. If there is a war, the United States may choose some young men to join the military.

If you are not a man age 18 to 26, this part is only an “if.” You can agree with this part, and it does not affect you.

I will do non-combative work for the military if asked.

This is also about the selective service for men 18-26. Some men do not want to fight because of their religion. The government asks those men to help with jobs that do not require fighting.

I will do important work for the country if asked.

This is also about the selective service for men 18-26. Some men cannot help the military because of their religion.

In World War 1 and 2, some men helped do other important work for the country. They helped fight fires. They helped feed hungry people.

I take this oath freely and without any doubts.

The last part of the oath means that you, and only you, really want to become a citizen. Freely means that this is your free choice.

Without any doubts means that you are 100% sure about your decision. It is very difficult to change your mind after you become a citizen.

The United States government has three branches, or parts. Congress is the part that makes laws.

Congress makes laws for all of the United States. They can write laws about many things, like health care, unemployment benefits, transportation, the military, taxes, and more.

Citizens in every state choose members of congress. We vote for them, and they represent us in Washington DC. If you are not happy with something, you can call your representative and tell them. This is all part of democracy.

Who makes federal laws? –> Congress

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Congress has two parts. The House of Representatives has many members. The Senate has fewer members. They have to work together to make new laws, but it is not easy.

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* –> The House and the Senate

The House of Representatives is kind of a wild place. We elect US Representatives every 2 years. That means every 2 years, the House can change a lot.

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? –> 2

Every state sends Representatives to Washington DC, but some states send more. For example, Oregon has 5 Representatives. Washington has 10 Representatives. California has 52 Representatives.

Why? Washington has more people than Oregon. And California has the most people in the United States.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? –> because of the state’s population

The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. How can we remember that?

The House of Representatives has how many voting members? –> 435

N-400

• Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?
• Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?
• Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?
• Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?
• Have you EVER been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program (for example, Yes No diversion, deferred prosecution, withheld adjudication, deferred adjudication)?
• Have you EVER received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation, or been paroled?
• Have you EVER been in jail or prison?

Reading and Civics

The United States government has many parts. Congress makes federal laws. The court interprets the laws. The president signs bills to become laws. The president is also in charge of the Executive branch.

Each part of the government is called a branch. The constitution made 3 branches of government to work together.

Name one branch or part of the government.* –> Congress / the President / the courts

The founding fathers did not want America to have a king. They worried about one part of the government from getting too much power.

So, congress has some powers over the president. The president has some power over congress. The court has some power over the president and congress. Congress and the president also have some power over the court.

This separation of power is supposed to keep things balanced. We sometimes call these rules checks and balances.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? –> Checks and Balances

Another balance of power is between the federal government and state governments. Only the federal government can do some special things, like:

• Print money
• Declare war
• Make treaties

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? –> print money

On the other hand, only state governments have these powers:

• Give a driver license
• Provide education
• Provide police and safety

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? –> give a driver license

N-400 Review

Blue:

1. What is your name?
2. Do you want to legally change your name?
3. When were you born?
4. What do you do?
5. Have you EVER claimed to be a U.S. citizen (in writing or any other way)?
6. Have you EVER been a member of any organization in the US or anywhere in the world?
7. Were you EVER involved in any way with tortusre?
8. Were you EVER a member of a military unit?
9. Were you EVER a worker in a prison or a jail?

Gold

1. What is your full name?
2. What is your phone number?
3. Do you have children?
4. Have you visited another country since you got your greencard?
5. Have you EVER been declared legally incompetent or been confined to a mental institution?
6. Have you EVER been a member of The Communist Party?
7. Have you EVER persecuted any person because of race, religion, national origin or political opinion?
8. Were you EVER a member of a police unit?
9. Were you EVER a worker in a prison camp?

Pink

1. What is your name?
2. Do you want to legally change your name?
3. Where were you born?
4. Are you a citizen of that country?
5. Please give me your greencard, ID, and passports.
6. Do you owe any overdue Federal, state, or local taxes?
7. Have you EVER advocated the overthrow of any government by force or violence?
8. Were you EVER a member of a rebel group?
9. Did you EVER sell, give, or provide weapons to any person?

Green

1. What is your legal name?
2. What is your current address?
3. How long have you lived there?
4. Are you married, single, divorced, or widowed?
5. Have you EVER not filed a Federal, state, or local tax return since you became a lawful permanent?
6. Have you EVER been a member of a terrorist organization?
7. Were you EVER involved in any way with killing, or trying to kill someone?
8. Were you EVER a member of a self-defense unit?
9. Did you EVER receive any type of military, paramilitary, or weapons training?

Civics and Reading

The constitution defines the government for all Americans. We don’t have any kings, queens, or nobility. Everyone must follow the law.

What about teachers? They must follow the law.

What about governors? They must follow the law.

What about presidents? They must follow the law.

What is the “rule of law”? –> Everyone must follow the law.

The constitution was written in 1787. It had many problems.

For example, in 1787, women could not vote. In 1787, white men could own slaves. In 1787, Native Americans had no rights.

Congress and the states can change the constitution, but it is not easy. This change to the constitution is called an amendment.

What is an amendment? –> A change (to the constitution)

Congress and the states have only changed the Constitution 27 times.

How many amendments does the Constitution have? –> 27

In 1789, Congress made 10 amendments to the Constitution. This list of amendments was called a bill. These first 10 amendments give us really important rights. So, we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution the Bill of Rights.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? –> The Bill of Rights

The first amendment gives all Americans the right to free speech. It also gives us the right to come together, to protest, to report news freely, and to practice religion.

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* –> Speech

Many colonists came from Europe to America for religious freedom. They wanted to practice their religion in a free way. Now, we also have the freedom to not practice a religion.

What is freedom of religion? –> You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

These rights in the constitution are for all people in the United States. That means these are rights for citizens, permanent residents, undocumented people, and visitors.

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? –> freedom of speech, freedom of religion

N-400

• 19. Did you EVER receive any type of military, paramilitary, or weapons training?
• 20. Did you EVER recruit (ask), enlist (sign up), conscript (require), or use children in an armed force?
• 21. Did you EVER use children to do anything that helped or supported people in combat?

Civics + Reading

After World War 2, the United States was concerned about the Soviet Union and Communism. This time is called “The Cold War.”

Communism means that the government owns almost everything. People cannot own property.

Communism is a different form of government than the US. The US has democracy and a market economy.

During the Cold War, the communist countries and capitalist countries fought to control the world. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991.

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? –> Communism

From The Civil War to the 1950s, black people in American did not have equal rights.

White people used the law, education, and fear against black people. This was a terrible time of racial discrimination.

The Civil Rights Movement was a large group of protestors who tried to end racial discrimination. They protested, spoke, and got arrested.

What movement tried to end racial discrimination? –> The Civil Rights Movement

One of the Civil Rights Movement leaders was Martin Luther King Jr. He fought for civil rights.

He fought for civil rights by speaking. He fought for civil rights by writing. He fought for civil rights by protesting. He fought for civil rights by using civil disobedience. He was arrested almost 30 times.

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* –> Fought for civil rights

On April 4, 1968, King was killed by a white man. King was only 39 years old, but Americans will always remember him as a hero. We remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January.

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? That morning, terrorists attacked the United States.

They flew planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York. They flew a plane into the Pentagon, the main building for the military.

They tried to fly one more plane into the White House, but the people on the plane stopped the terrorists.

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? –> Terrorists attacked the United States

N-400 Practice

Review:

N-400 Part 12, Questions 16-18

1. Were you EVER a worker in a prison or a jail?
2. Were you EVER a worker in a labor camp?
3. Were you EVER a worker in a detention facility?
4. Were you EVER a worker in a prison camp?
5. Were you EVER a worker in any place people were forced to stay?
6. Were you EVER involved in any way with a group that used a weapon against any person, or threatened to do so?
7. Did you EVER sell, give, or provide weapons to any person, or help another person sell, give, or provide weapons to any person?

Unfortunately, the United States fought many wars from 1900-1999.

The United States fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War.

World War I was in Europe, from 1914-1918. The United States joined world War I in 1917.

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.* –> World War One

Woodrow Wilson was president during World War One.

Who was President during World War I? –> Woodrow Wilson

On October 29th, 1929 the Great Depression started in the United States.

The stock market crashed and many banks lost all their money. Millions of Americans lost all their money and their jobs.

In this difficult time, Franklin Roosevelt ran for president. He helped start Social Security, food stamps, and many protections for all Americans.

Roosevelt was very popular because he helped Americans during the Great Depression. He was elected president four times!

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He was still president on December 7, 1941, when the Navy of Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After that, the United States joined the fight of World War II. Roosevelt was also president during World War II.

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? –> (Franklin) Roosevelt

During World War II, the United States fought Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Who did the United States fight in World War II? –> Japan, Germany, and Italy

Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, before the end of the war. Because Roosevelt could no longer serve, the vice president became the president.

One important general in World War II was Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the war, he ran for president. He was president from 1953 to 1961.

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
2. Who was President during World War I?
3. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
4. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
5. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

N400 Practice

Review of Vocabulary

N400 Part 12, Question 15

1. Were you EVER a member of a military unit?
2. Were you EVER a member of a paramilitary unit?
3. Were you EVER a member of a police unit?
4. Were you EVER a member of a self defense unit?
5. Were you EVER a member of a vigilante unit?
6. Were you EVER a member of a rebel group?
7. Were you EVER a member of a guerrilla group?
8. Were you EVER a member of a militia?
9. Were you EVER a member of a insurgent organization?