Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens

Updated: October 30, 2026

Some rights belong to everyone living in the United States, like freedom of speech and religion. Others are reserved for citizens: voting in federal elections, running for federal office, and serving on a jury. Citizenship also brings responsibilities, from obeying the law and paying taxes to serving on a jury when called. The 2025 civics test has a full section on this topic.

Rights everyone in the U.S. has

Most constitutional rights protect all people in the country, including green card holders and visitors. The 2025 test asks: "What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?" Accepted answers:

Freedom of expression
Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom of religion
The right to bear arms

These come mainly from the 1st and 2nd Amendments. Due process and fair trial protections also apply broadly. Learn the background in the Bill of Rights explained.

Rights reserved for citizens

The test asks: "Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?" The answer is citizens (or "citizens of the United States," "U.S. citizens").

In practice, naturalizing opens up:

Voting in federal elections, and in nearly all state and local elections. Voting as a non-citizen in a federal election is a crime and can lead to removal, which is why it is a serious issue on the N-400.
Running for elected office. Most federal and many state offices require citizenship. The presidency goes further and requires being a natural-born citizen.
Serving on a jury.
A U.S. passport and the protection of U.S. consulates abroad.
Many federal jobs that require citizenship.
Sponsoring more family members for immigration, and faster processing for some categories.
Passing citizenship to children born abroad, under conditions set by law. See citizenship for children (N-600).
Security of status. Unlike a green card, citizenship is not lost for long trips abroad, and citizens cannot be deported. (Naturalization can be revoked in rare cases involving fraud.)

For a fuller comparison, see green card vs. citizenship.

Responsibilities of citizens

Some responsibilities are legal duties, others are civic expectations.

Legal duties

Obey the law at federal, state, and local levels.
Pay taxes. The 2025 test asks why it is important to pay federal taxes. Accepted answers: required by law, all people pay to fund the federal government, required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment), and civic duty.
Serve on a jury when summoned. Jury duty is a responsibility that comes only with citizenship.
Register with the Selective Service if you are a man aged 18 through 25. This applies to most male immigrants living in the U.S. too, not only citizens. The test asks for one reason: required by law, civic duty, or makes the draft fair, if needed. Failing to register can raise questions during naturalization, so register if it applies to you.

Civic responsibilities

The test asks: "What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?" Accepted answers:

Vote
Run for office
Join a political party
Help with a campaign
Join a civic group
Join a community group
Give an elected official your opinion (on an issue)
Contact elected officials
Support or oppose an issue or policy
Write to a newspaper

And: "What is one way Americans can serve their country?" Accepted answers: vote, pay taxes, obey the law, serve in the military, run for office, or work for local, state, or federal government.

The promises in the Oath of Allegiance

When you naturalize, you formally accept these responsibilities by taking the Oath of Allegiance. The 2025 test asks you to "Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance." Accepted answers:

Give up loyalty to other countries
Defend the (U.S.) Constitution
Obey the laws of the United States
Serve in the military (if needed)
Serve (help, do important work for) the nation (if needed)
Be loyal to the United States

Easy pair: "Obey the laws of the United States" and "Be loyal to the United States." See what to expect at the oath ceremony.

How people become citizens

The section also asks: "How can people become United States citizens?" Accepted answers:

Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment
Naturalize
Derive citizenship (under conditions set by Congress)

If you are reading this, you are probably on the naturalization path. Start with how to become a U.S. citizen.

The voting amendments

Question 63 asks you to describe one of the four voting amendments. Easiest answer: "Citizens 18 and older can vote" (26th Amendment). Others: no poll tax (24th), women and men can vote (19th), a male citizen of any race can vote (15th).

Putting it into practice after the oath

Register to vote. Many ceremonies have voter registration tables.
Update your Social Security record to show you are a citizen.
Apply for a U.S. passport.
Respond to jury summonses.

The after naturalization checklist covers each step.

This section on the test

The "Rights and Responsibilities" section covers questions 63 to 72 on the USCIS list. Question 66 (the Pledge of Allegiance) is an asterisk question. Several answers are long lists, so choose one or two you can say confidently and practice them out loud, for example in Civio's Exam Mode. All questions are on the civics questions page.

Frequently asked questions

What rights do only U.S. citizens have?

Voting in federal elections, running for federal office, and serving on a jury are the rights the civics test highlights. Citizens can also get a U.S. passport and hold many federal jobs.

What are the responsibilities of a U.S. citizen?

Obeying the law, paying taxes, serving on a jury when called, and, for men 18 through 25, registering with the Selective Service. Voting and civic participation are also important responsibilities.

Do green card holders have freedom of speech?

Yes. Freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the other rights listed on the test apply to everyone living in the United States.

Do immigrants have to register for the Selective Service?

Most men aged 18 through 25 living in the United States must register, including most immigrants who are not citizens. Check the Selective Service System's official guidance for your situation.

What are two promises in the Oath of Allegiance?

Common answers are to obey the laws of the United States and to be loyal to the United States. Others include giving up loyalty to other countries and defending the Constitution.

Prepare for the civics test with Civio: every official question from the 2025 USCIS civics test, Exam Mode with your state's questions, and spaced repetition.

Informational article, not legal advice. Civio is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; always check current requirements at uscis.gov.