What word means a formal written statement?

The word that means a formal written statement, on the USCIS reading vocabulary list, is Document. A document is a written or printed paper that records, certifies, or provides authoritative information.

Several founding documents are central to American civic life and to the citizenship test. The Constitution of the United States, signed in 1787 and ratified in 1788, is the supreme law of the land and establishes the structure of the federal government. The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain and articulated the natural-rights philosophy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution ratified in 1791, protects individual freedoms against government interference. The Articles of Confederation, in effect from 1781 to 1789, was the first U.S. governing document and was replaced by the Constitution because it created too weak a central government.

Other important historical documents include the Federalist Papers (1787-1788), the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and the Gettysburg Address (1863).

In the naturalization process applicants submit and present many documents, including Form N-400 (the Application for Naturalization), a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), passport-style photos, supporting evidence of eligibility (such as marriage certificates, military records, or tax returns), and a state-issued identification at the interview. The Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) is the document issued at the oath ceremony that proves U.S. citizenship and is required to apply for a U.S. passport.

The original Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are displayed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.