1 Flashcards
What does the constitution do?
Sets up the government
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the people
What is an amendment?
A change to the constitution
What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution?
The bill of rights
What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?
Freedom of speech
How many amendments does the constitution have?
27
What did the declaration of independence do?
Announced / declared our independence from Great Britain
What are two rights in the declaration of independence?
Life and liberty
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion or not practice a religion
What is the economic system in the United States?
Market economy
What is the “Rule of the law”?
Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law. No one is above the law.
Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress
What stops one branch of Government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The president
Who makes federal laws?
Congress. Senate and House of Representatives. US or national legislature.
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
The Senate
House of Representatives
How many US senators are there?
100
We elect a US senator for how many years?
6
Who is one of your state’s US senators now?
Tammy Baldwin
The house of representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a US representative for how many years?
2
Name your US representative
Paul Ryan
Who does a US senator represents?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives then other states?
Because of the states population, because they have more people, because some states have more people
We elect a president for how many years?
4
In what month do we vote for president?
November
What is the name of the president of the United States now?
Obama
What is the name of the vice presidents of the United States now?
Joe Biden
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President
If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The speaker of the house
Who is the commander in chief of the military?
The president
Who signs bills to become laws?
The president
Who vetoes bills?
The president
What does the president’s cabinet do?
Advises the president
What are two cabinets level positions?
Secretary of Homeland security; Vice president
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws; explains laws; resolve disputes; decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
How many justice are on the Supreme Court?
9
Who is the chief justice of the United States now?
John Roberts
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the federal Government. What is one power of the federal government?
To print money
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education
Who is the governor of your state now?
Scott Walker
What is the capital of your states?
Madison
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the president now?
Democratic
What is the name of the speaker of the house of representatives now?
John Boehner
They are four amendments to the constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Any citizen can vote
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury
Name one right only for United States citizens
Vote in the Federal election
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of speech; freedom of worship
What do we show loyalty to when we say the pledge of allegiance?
The United States the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Give up loyalty to other countries
How old do citizens have to be to vote for president?
18 and older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their Democracy?
Join a political party; run for office;
Vote
When is the last day you can send in the federal income tax forms?
April 15
When must all men register for the selective service?
At age 18; between 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians; Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
People of Africa; africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Because of high taxes. Because the British Army stayed in their houses. Because they didn’t have self government.
Who wrote the declaration of independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the declaration of independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name three:
New York New Jersey Massachusetts
What happened at the Constitutional convention?
The Constitution was written. The founding fathers wrote the constitution
When was the Constitution written
1787
The Federalist papers supported the passage of the united states constitution. Name one of the writers
James Madison
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for
US diplomat
Who is the “father of our country”
George Washington
Who was the first president
George Washington
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s
War of 1812
Name the US war between the north and the south
The Civil War
Name one problem that led to Civil War
Slavery
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did
Freed the slaves
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do
Freed the slaves
What did Susan B Anthony do
Fought for women’s rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s
World war one
Who was president during world war one
Woodrow Wilson
Who was president during the great depression and world war two
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in world war two
Japan, Germany, and Italy
Before he was president Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World war two
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination
Civil rights
What did Martin Luther king Junior do
Fought for civil rights
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States
Terrorist attacked the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States
Blackfeet
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
Mississippi River
What ocean is on the west coast of the United States
Pacific ocean
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States
Atlantic Ocean
Name one US territory
US Virgin islands
Name one state that borders Canada
Michigan
Name one state that borders Mexico
California
What is the capital of the United States
Washington DC
Where is the Statue of Liberty
New York Harbor
Why does the flag have 13 stripes
Because there were 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars
Because they are 50 states
What is the name of the national anthem
The star spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day
July 4
Name two national US holidays
Thanksgiving and Christmas
