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Citizenship Test Answers That Depend on Your State: Senators, Representative, Governor and Capital

Four civics questions depend on where you live: senator, representative, governor and capital. How to find them, and the answers for D.C. and territories.

By the Citizo Team5 min read

A woman at her desk points to her state on a plain map of the United States.

In short

  • Four civics questions have answers that depend on where you live: one of your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital.
  • You must give the name of the person serving on the day of your interview.
  • People in Washington, D.C. and in U.S. territories have special answers, written in the official list.
  • Check these answers again close to your interview, especially after an election.
In this guide
  1. The four questions
  2. How to find your answers, step by step
  3. If you live in D.C. or a U.S. territory
  4. Why these answers change
  5. Your state's answers in Citizo
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Sources

The four questions

2025 test2008 testQuestion
2320Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
2923Name your U.S. representative.
6143Who is the governor of your state now?
6244What is the capital of your state?

If you have the 65/20 special list: on the 2025 test, the governor question (61) is one of your 20 questions. On the 2008 test, the senator (20) and capital (44) questions are on the list. Note: the USCIS "Check for Test Updates" page shows an asterisk next to the 2025 senator question (23), but the official list of 128 questions (M-1778) does not mark it as a 65/20 question. We follow the official list.

How to find your answers, step by step

  1. Senators. Each state has two U.S. senators; you need to name one. USCIS points to senate.gov to find them.
  2. Representative. Your representative depends on your congressional district, not only on your state. Use "Find Your Representative" on house.gov and enter your ZIP code.
  3. Governor. USCIS points to usa.gov. The USA.gov "State governors" page lists every state and territory.
  4. Capital. Look at your state's official government website. USA.gov has links to every state and territory.
  5. Write the four answers down and practice saying them out loud.
  6. Check again a few days before your interview.

If you live in D.C. or a U.S. territory

The official lists say what to answer:

QuestionWashington, D.C.U.S. territories
SenatorsSay that D.C. has no U.S. senatorsSay that the territory has no U.S. senators
RepresentativeNot covered by the official note (see below)You may name the Delegate or Resident Commissioner, or say the territory has no (voting) representatives in Congress
GovernorSay that D.C. does not have a governorName the governor of your territory
CapitalSay that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capitalName the capital of your territory

For the representative question, the official note talks only about territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners. It does not mention D.C. D.C. also has a nonvoting Delegate in the House, so Citizo accepts the Delegate's name or a statement that D.C. has no voting representative in Congress. This is our reading of the note, not a USCIS rule. If you live in D.C., ask an accredited representative or an attorney if you are unsure.

Why these answers change

Senators, representatives and governors are elected. After the 2026 general elections, some of them will change. House.gov explains that the winners of November elections do not represent their districts until the new Congress starts in January 2027. Under the 20th Amendment, the terms of senators and representatives end, and the new terms begin, at noon on January 3. Also, many district lines were redrawn, but the new districts only count from the start of the new Congress.

So:

  • If your interview is before the new Congress starts on January 3, 2027, the answer for senators and representatives is the person serving now, even if someone else won the election.
  • If your interview is after the new Congress starts, the answer is the new person.
  • Governors start their terms on different dates depending on the state. Check your state's official website.

Your state's answers in Citizo

In Citizo, the your state screen shows your senators, your representative (from your ZIP code), your governor and your capital, with the D.C. and territory answers when they apply. These answers also appear in your flashcards and practice test. Officials can change at any time, so always confirm on the official websites before your interview. For the rest of the list, see citizenship test questions 2026. Once you are a citizen, you can vote for these offices: see after the oath ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to name both senators?

No. The question asks for one of your state's U.S. senators. Learn both, in case you forget one.

My ZIP code has two districts. Which representative is mine?

Your district depends on your home address. If the house.gov search by ZIP code shows more than one representative, confirm your district with your state or county election office.

I moved after I filed. Which state do I answer for?

Answer for where you live at the time of the interview, and remember that you must report your new address to USCIS within 10 days.

What if the person changes the week of my interview?

You must give the name of the official serving at the time of your interview. Check the official websites close to the date.

About this guide

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative. Citizo is an independent app. It is not part of the U.S. government and has no connection to USCIS. The official information is at uscis.gov. Written by the Citizo Team. Facts checked on October 29, 2026.

Sources