2008 version of the civics test Flashcards
- What is the supreme law of the land?
the constitution
- What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up and defines the government
▪ protects 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)
▪ an addition (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
▪ 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 two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ 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.
▪ No one is above the law.
▪ Government and leaders must obey the law.
- Name one branch or part of the government.*
Judicial = ju-dee-sal
Legislative
- What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
- Who is in charge of the executive branch?
president
- Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
- How many U.S. Senators are there?
100
- We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
6 years
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*
Benjamin Cardin
Chris Van Hollen
- 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.
Anthony Brown
Jamie (Jamin) Raskin
- Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
▪ all people of the state
- Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states 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?*
Donald Trump
- What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Mike Pence
- 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
▪ Vice President
▪ Secretary of Defense
▪ Secretary of Education
- What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
- What is the highest court in the United States?
▪ the Supreme Court
- How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
nine
- Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John Roberts