American government 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 they?
We the people
What is an amendment?
A change or an addition to the constitution
What do we call the first 10 amendments?
The bill of rights
What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?
Speech
Religion
Assembly
Press
Petition the governement
How many amendments are there?
27
What did the declaration of independence do?
Announced our independence from Great Britain
Declared our independence
Said that the US is free
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 US?
Capitalist economy
Market economy
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law
Leaders must follow the law
Government must follow the law
No one is above the law
Name one branch of government?
Judicial
Congress
Legislative
President
The courts
Executive
What stops one branch 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
US or national legislature
What are two parts of the US congress?
The senate and house of representatives
How many US Senators are there?
100
We elect a US Senator for many years?
Six
Who is one of your states US Senators now?
Brian Schatz
Mazie Hirono
The house of representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a US representative for how many years?
2
Name your US representatives
Ed Case
Jill Tokuda
Who does a US Senator represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than other states
Because of 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 US now?
Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President?
Kamala Harris
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes the president?
The Vice President
If both the president and the VP can no longer serve who becomes president?
Speaker of the house
Who is the commander in chief of the military?
The president
Who signs bills to become laws?
The president
Who vetos bills
The president
What does the presidents cabinet do?
Advises the president
What are 2 cabinet level positions
Secretary of “agriculture
Defense
Education
Transportation
Energy
Homeland security
State
Labor
Vice president
House and urban development
Health and human services
Commerce
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 right now?
John G Roberts Jr
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? 
To print money, to declare war, to create an army, to make treaties. 
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? 
Provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire department), give a drivers license, approve zoning, and land use  
Who is the governor of your state now? 
Governor, Josh Green. 
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 
What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives right now? 
Congressman Mike Johnson 
There are four amendments to the constitution about who can vote describe one of them 
Citizens, 18 and older can vote, you don’t have to pay to vote. Any citizen can vote. A male citizen of any race can vote. 
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury or vote in a federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens 
Vote in a federal election or run for federal office 
What are two rights for everyone living in the United States? 
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 you make when you become the United States citizen?
Give up loyalty to other countries, defend the constitution and laws of the United States, obey the laws of the United States, serve in the US military (if needed), serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed), be loyal to the United States 
How old is citizens have to be to vote for president?
18 or older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Vote, join up, political party, help with the campaign, join a civic group, join a community group, give an elected official your opinion on an issue, call, senators, or representatives, publicly support, or oppose an issue or policy, runs for office, right 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 18 and 26. 
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom, political, liberty, religious, freedom, economic opportunity, practice, the religion, escape persecution 
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians, Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold the slaves?
Africans, people from Africa. 
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Because of high taxes (taxation without representation), because of 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 are 13 original states. Name three
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 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 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 United States, writer of “poor Richards 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 United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana territory, Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812, Mexican-American 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 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 United States during the Civil War
What did the emancipation proclamation do?
Freed the slaves, freed the slaves in the confederacy, freed the slaves in the confederate states, freed slaves and most southern states. 
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for women’s rights, fought for civil rights
Name one war fought in the United States in the 1900s
World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, war, (Persian) gulf war 
Who was the president during World War I?
(Woodrow.) Wilson 
Who was the 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, worked for equality for all Americans
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.
 Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet, Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan, Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, Inuit,
Name, one of the largest rivers in the United States
 Missouri River, 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
Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, northern Mariana Islands
Name one state that borders, Canada 
Main, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska 
Name one state that borders Mexico
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas 
What is the capital of the United States?
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 original colonies 
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because there is one star for each state, because each star represents a state, because there 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
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas 
