100 Questions Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
- sets up the government
- defines the government
- protects basic rights of Americans
The idea of self-government is in the first 3 words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What is an amendment?
- change (to the Constitution)
- an addition (to the Constitution)
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is one right of freedom form the First Amendment?
- speech
- religion
- assembly
- press
- petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
- announced our independence (from Great Britain)
- declared our independence (from Great Britain)
- said that the United States is free from Great Britain
What are 2 rights in the Declaration of Independence?
- Life
- Liberty
- the Pursuit of Happiness
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
Market economy
What is the “rule of law”?
- everyone must follow the law
- leaders and government must obey the law
- no one is above the law
Name one branch or part of the government.
Legislative branch (Congress) Executive branch (President) Judicial branch (the courts)
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
legislature
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many US Senators are there?
one hundred (100)
We elect a US senator for how many years?
6
Who is one of your state’s US Senators now?
Maria Cantwell (‘can trel) Patty Murray (‘meurri)
The House of Representative has how many voting members?
435
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2
Name your US Representative
Pramila Jayapal
Who does a US Senator represent?
all people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
- because of the state’s population
KS: the total size of a state’s delegation to the House depends on its population
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 US now?
Joseph Biden
What is the name of the Vice President of the US 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?
Secretary of State Secretary of Education Secretary of Defense Secretary of Transportation Secretary of the Treasury
What does the judicial branch do?
- reviews laws
- explains laws
- resolves disputes
- decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is the highest court in the US
the Supreme Court
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
Who is the Chief Justice of the US?
John Roberts
What is one power of the federal government?
to print money
to declare war (to create an army)
to make treaties
What is one power of the States?
Provide schooling and education
approve zoning and land use
police (protection) and fire department (safety)
issue driver’s licenses
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Jay Inslee
What is the capital of your state?
Olympia
What are the 2 major political parties in the US?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic Party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House?
Nancy Pelosi
There are 4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
- citizens 18 and older can vote
- you don’t have to pay a poll tax to vote
- any citizen can vote (men and women)
- a male citizen of any race can vote
What is one responsibility that is only for US citizens?
- serve on a jury
- vote in a federal election
Name one right only for US citizens.
- vote in a federal election
- run for federal office
What are 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
- freedom of expression
- freedom of speech
- freedom of assembly
- freedom to petition the government
- freedom of religion
- the right to bear arms
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States
The flag
What is one promise yo make when you become a US citizen?
- give up loyalty to other countries
- defend the Constitution and laws of the US
- obey the laws of the US
- serve in the US Military (if needed)
- serve the nation (if needed)
- be loyal to the US
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 and older
What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
- vote
- join a political party
- help with a campaign
- join a civic group
- join a community group
- give an elected official your opinion on an issue
- call Senators and Representatives
- publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
- run for office
- write to a newspaper
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
- between age 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists cam to America?
- freedom
- political liberty
- religious freedom
- economic opportunity
- practice their religion
- escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
American Indians
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
- because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
- because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
- 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 3
New Hampshire, Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
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 US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
- US diplomat
- oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
- first Postmaster General of the US
- writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
- started the first free libraries
Who is the “Father of our Country”?
George Washington
Who was the first President?
George Washington
What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s
- War of 1812
- Mexican-Amerian War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
Name the US war between the North and the South
the Civil War
the War between the States
Name one problem that led to the Civil War
slavery
economic reasons
states’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
- freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
- saved (or preserved) the Union
- led the US during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- freed the slaves
- freed slaves in the Confederacy
- freed slaves in the Confederate States
- freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
- fought for women’s rights
- fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the US in the 1900s
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
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 US fight in WWII?
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 US?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights movement
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
Fought for civil rights
Worked for equality for all Americans
What major event happened on Sept 11, 2001 in the US?
Terrorists attacked the US
Name one American Indian tribe in the US.
Cherokee Navajo Sioux Pueblo Apache Hopi Inuit ........
Name one of the 2 longest rivers in the US
Missouri River
Mississippi River
What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?
Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?
the Atlantic Ocean
Name one US Territory
Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam
Name one state that borders Canada
Maine
Washington
Idaho
…..
Name one state that borders Mexico
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
What is the capital of the US?
Washington, DC
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor
Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
- because there were 13 original colonies
- because the stripes represent the 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Each star represents a state.
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
