Civics Test Question 56: Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
A question from the 2025 civics test, with the answers USCIS publishes and our explanation.
Translation
56
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?最高法院大法官是终身任职。为什么?Los jueces de la Corte Suprema sirven de por vida. ¿Por qué?
Official answers
Any one of these is correct.
To be independent (of politics)为了(在政治上)保持独立Para ser independientes (de la política)
To limit outside (political) influence为了限制外部(政治)影响Para limitar la influencia (política) externa
Explanation
Lifetime appointments mean justices don’t have to worry about reelection or being replaced, so they can decide cases independently with less political pressure.
Memory tip
💡 Serving for life keeps them independent.
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