Civics Test Question 42: Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
A question from the 2025 civics test, with the answers USCIS publishes and our explanation.
Translation
42
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?谁是美军总司令？¿Quién es el comandante en jefe de las fuerzas armadas de EE. UU.?
Official answers
Any one of these is correct.
The President (of the United States)（美国）总统El presidente (de los Estados Unidos)
Explanation
The President is Commander in Chief of the military, so an elected civilian leads the armed forces, while the power to declare war belongs to Congress.
Memory tip
💡 Commander in Chief = the President.
More questions in American Government · System of Government
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