1 Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the constitution do?
Protects the basic rights of Americans
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 ten amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
speech
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
announced 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?
capitalist economy
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone must follow 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
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many U.S. Senators are there?
one hundred (100)
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
6 years
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Brian Schatz
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
2 years
Name your U.S. Representative.
Ed Case
Who does a U.S. Senator represent
all people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because) they have more people
We elect a President for how many years?
4 years
In what month do we vote for President?
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
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 Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General and Vice President
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws
What is the highest court in the United States?
the Supreme Court
How many justices 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?
David Ige
What is the capital of your state?
Honolulu
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic Party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (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 a federal election
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
freedom of speech and freedom of religion
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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?
eighteen (18) and older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
vote and run for office
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
at age 18
What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
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 Jersey
New York
North Carolina
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
When was the Constitution written?
1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Maddison
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S. 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.
Civil War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South
the civil war
Name one problem that led to the Civil War
salvery
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 I
Who was President during World War I?
(Woodrow) Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, and Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights (movement)
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
fought for civil rights
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists 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 U.S. territory
Guam
Name one state that borders Canada
Washington
Name one state that borders Mexico
Texas
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
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 there is one star for each state
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
Thanksgiving and Christmas
