Do you support the Constitution?

When the USCIS officer asks whether the applicant supports the U.S. Constitution, the answer should be "Yes," confirming the applicant's commitment to constitutional democracy as a condition of naturalization. The question, similar to the earlier question about belief in the Constitution, is part of confirming that the applicant is attached to the principles of the Constitution and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States, codified in section 316(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Oath of Allegiance includes the explicit promise to "support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Supporting the Constitution does not require expert knowledge of its provisions, agreement with every Supreme Court ruling, or any particular political view. It means commitment to: the rule of law (laws apply to everyone, including officials); separation of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial branches with checks and balances); federalism (national government with limited enumerated powers and reserved state powers); individual rights (Bill of Rights and Reconstruction Amendments protections); peaceful change through elections, courts, and amendment processes (rather than through revolution or violence); and the consent of the governed.

Applicants are free to support any party, hold any policy view, or work to amend the Constitution through proper procedures. They are not required to support the current government, the current president, or current laws. They are required to commit to the constitutional process. Applicants who believe in the right to overthrow the U.S. government by force or violence are not eligible for naturalization under section 313 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which lists various political bars. Members of totalitarian or violent revolutionary parties may face the section 313 bar.

Most applicants have no difficulty supporting the Constitution. Many applicants come from countries where constitutional democracy is fragile, suppressed, or absent, and the opportunity to live under the U.S. Constitution is part of why they immigrated. The question is not a test of constitutional knowledge; the civics test (separate from this interview question) covers the basic facts about the Constitution. The "support" question is about commitment, not knowledge. A simple "Yes" answer is sufficient.

Officers may ask follow-up questions only if there is something in the application or background that raises specific concerns. Applicants who have changed political views over time (from supporting an authoritarian regime to embracing democracy, for example) can describe that evolution honestly; the Constitution welcomes converts as well as longtime believers. The question is forward-looking; what matters is the applicant's current commitment.