Civics Test Question 11: The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
A question from the 2025 civics test, with the answers USCIS publishes and our explanation.
Translation
11
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?“生命、自由和追求幸福” 这句话出自哪份建国文件？¿En qué documento fundador están las palabras "Vida, Libertad y la búsqueda de la Felicidad"?
Official answers
Any one of these is correct.
Declaration of Independence《独立宣言》La Declaración de Independencia
Explanation
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” comes from the Declaration of Independence, its most famous line about rights people are born with. It is not in the Constitution.
Memory tip
💡 Pursuit of Happiness → Declaration, not the Constitution.
More questions in American Government · Principles
The real test is spoken: the officer asks, you answer out loud
On the website you can read and tap. In the PathToUS Citizenship app, an AI officer reads each question, listens to your spoken answer and grades it, runs a full mock interview based on your own N-400, and drills English reading and writing.
Answer civics questions out loud with AI grading
N-400 mock interview with questions and follow-ups from your form
Full mock interview: oath, N-400, civics, reading and writing
Reading and writing test with the official vocabulary