American Government Flashcards
1
Q
What is the supreme law of the land?
A
the constitution
2
Q
What does the constitution do? (3)
A
- it sets up the government
- defines the government
- protects basic rights of americans
3
Q
the idea of self government is in the first three words of the constitution. what are these three words?
A
We the people
4
Q
what is an amendment? (2)
A
- a change (to the constitution)
2. an addition (to the constitution)
5
Q
what do we call the first ten amendments of the contitution?
A
the bill of rights
6
Q
what is ONE right or freedom from the first amendment? (5)
A
- freedom of speech
- freedom of religion
- freedom of assembly
- freedom of the press
- freedom to petition the government
7
Q
how many amendments does the constitution have?
A
27
8
Q
what did the declaration of independence do? (3)
A
- announced our independence (from great Britian)
- declared our independence (from great britian)
- said that the United States is free (from great britian)
9
Q
What are two rights in the declaration of independence? (3)
A
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
10
Q
what is freedom of religion?
A
you can practice any religion, or not practice any religion
11
Q
what is the economic system in the US? (2)
A
capitalist economy
market economy
12
Q
what is the rule of law? (4)
A
everyone must follow the law
leaders must obey the law
government must obey the law
no one is above the law
13
Q
Name one branch (or part) of the government (6)
A
congress legislative branch president executive branch the courts judicial
14
Q
what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? (2)
A
checks and balances
separation of powers
15
Q
who is in charge of the executive branch?
A
the president
16
Q
who makes federal laws? (3)
A
congress
senate and house of representatives
U.S legislature
17
Q
what are the two parts of the US congress?
A
the senate and the house of representatives
18
Q
how many US senators are there?
A
100 (2 per state)
19
Q
We elect a US senator for how many years?
A
6
20
Q
who is one of YOUR states U.S. senators now?
A
Chris Murphy
Richard Blumenthal
21
Q
The house of representatives has how many voting members?
A
435
22
Q
We elect a U.S. representative for how many years?
A
2
23
Q
name your US representative
A
Rosa DeLauro
24
Q
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
A
all people of that state
25
who do some states have more representatives than other states? (3)
Because of the states population
because they have more people
because some states have more people
26
We elect a president for how many years?
4
27
in what month do we vote for president?
November
28
what is the name of the president of the United States right now
President Barak Obama
29
what is the name of the vice president of the United States right now
Joseph Biden
| joe biden
30
if the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
the vice president
31
if both the president and vice president can no longer serve who becomes president?
the speaker of the house
32
who is the commander in chief of the military?
The president
33
who signs bills to become laws?
the president
34
who vetoes bills?
the president
35
what does the presidents cabinet do?
advise the president
36
what are two cabinet level positions?
secretary of defense
secretary of agriculture
secretary of education
secretary of energy
37
what does the judicial branch do? (4)
reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes
decides if a law goes against the constitution
38
whats the highest court of the United States?
the supreme court
39
how many justices are on the supreme court?
9
40
who is the chief justice of the United states right now?
John Roberts
41
under our constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the ferderal government? (4)
to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties
42
under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. what is one power of the states? (5)
```
provide schooling and education
provide protection (police)
provide safety (fire departments)
give a drivers license
approve zoning and land use
```
43
who is the Governor of Connecticut?
Governor Malloy
44
what is the capital of Connecticut?
Hartford
45
what are the two major political parties of the United States?
Democrat and republican
46
what is the political party of president Obama?
democratic party
47
who is the speaker of the house?
John Boehner
48
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 (meaning men and women can both vote)
a male citizen of any race can vote (meaning black people can vote)
49
what is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? (2)
serving on a jury
| voting in a federal election
50
name one RIGHT only for U.S. citizens
voting in a federal election
| running for a federal office
51
what are two rights (freedoms) of everyone living in the United States? (6)
1. freedom of expression
2. freedom of speech
3. freedom of assembly
4. freedom to petition the government
5. freedom of worship (or of religion)
6. the right to bear arms
52
what do we show loyalty to when we say the pledge of allegiance? (2)
the flag
| the united states
53
what is one promise you make when you become a united states citizen? (3)
1. give up loyalty to other countries
2. defend the constitution and laws of the united states
3. obey the laws of the United States
54
who old do you have to be to vote for president?
18
55
what are TWO ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? (10)
1. vote
2. join a political party
3. help with a campaign
4. join a civic group
5. join a community group
56
when is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15
57
when must all men register for the selective service?
at age 18 or between 18-26
58
what is one reason colonists came to america? (6)
```
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape prosecution
```
58
what is one reason colonists came to america? (6)
```
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape prosecution
```
59
who lived in America before Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
| american indians
59
who lived in America before Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
| american indians
60
what group of people was taken to america and sold as slaves?
Africans
60
what group of people was taken to america and sold as slaves?
Africans
61
Why did the colonists fight the british? (3)
1. because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
2. because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding and quartering)
3. because they didn't have self government
61
Why did the colonists fight the british? (3)
1. because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
2. because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding and quartering)
3. because they didn't have self government
62
who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
62
who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
63
when was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
july 4th, 1776
63
when was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
july 4th, 1776
64
there were 13 original states. name three
```
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhodes Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
```
64
there were 13 original states. name three
```
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhodes Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
```
65
what happened at the constitutional convention?
The constitution was written
65
what happened at the constitutional convention?
The constitution was written
66
when was the constitution written?
1787
66
when was the constitution written?
1787
67
The federalist papers supported the passage of the US constitution. Name ONE of the writers (4)
james Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Publius
67
The federalist papers supported the passage of the US constitution. Name ONE of the writers (4)
james Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Publius
68
what is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? (5)
```
U.S. diplomat
oldest member of the constitutional convention
first postmaster general of the U.S.
he wrote "Poor Richards Almanac"
Started the first free libraries
```
68
what is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? (5)
```
U.S. diplomat
oldest member of the constitutional convention
first postmaster general of the U.S.
he wrote "Poor Richards Almanac"
Started the first free libraries
```
69
who is the father of our country?
George Washington
69
who is the father of our country?
George Washington
70
what territory did the U.S. buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana
70
what territory did the U.S. buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana
71
Name ONE war fought by the U.S. in the 1800s (4)
war of 1812
mexican -american war
civil war
spanish american war
71
Name ONE war fought by the U.S. in the 1800s (4)
war of 1812
mexican -american war
civil war
spanish american war
72
name the U.S. war between the north and south
civil war
72
name the U.S. war between the north and south
civil war
73
name one problem that led to the civil war (3)
slavery
economic reasons
states rights
73
name one problem that led to the civil war (3)
slavery
economic reasons
states rights
74
what was one thing Abraham Lincoln did?
Freed the slaves
74
what was one thing Abraham Lincoln did?
Freed the slaves
75
what did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for wome's rights
75
what did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for wome's rights
76
name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s (5)
```
world war I
world war II
korean war
vietnam war
gulf war
```
76
name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s (5)
```
world war I
world war II
korean war
vietnam war
gulf war
```
77
who was the president during world war I ?
Woodrow Wilson
77
who was the president during world war I ?
Woodrow Wilson
78
who was president during the great depression and world war II?
Franklin Roosevelt
78
who was president during the great depression and world war II?
Franklin Roosevelt
79
Who did the U.S fight in world war II?
Germany, Japan, Italy
79
Who did the U.S fight in world war II?
Germany, Japan, Italy
80
Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. what war was he in?
World war II
80
Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. what war was he in?
World war II
81
during the cold war, what was the main concern of the U.S.?
communism
81
during the cold war, what was the main concern of the U.S.?
communism
82
what movement tried to end racial discrimination?
the civil rights movement
82
what movement tried to end racial discrimination?
the civil rights movement
83
what did Martin Luther Kind Jr. do?
fought for civil rights
83
what did Martin Luther Kind Jr. do?
fought for civil rights
84
what major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the U.S.
terrorist attack on the U.S. (twin towers)
84
what major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the U.S.
terrorist attack on the U.S. (twin towers)
85
name ONE American Indian tribe in the United states
cherokee
| Navajo
85
name ONE American Indian tribe in the United states
cherokee
| Navajo
86
name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
Missouri River
| Mississippi river
86
name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
Missouri River
| Mississippi river
87
what ocean is on the west coast of the united states?
Pacific ocean
87
what ocean is on the west coast of the united states?
Pacific ocean
88
what ocean is on the east coast of the united states?
atlantic ocean
88
what ocean is on the east coast of the united states?
atlantic ocean
89
name ONE U.S. territory (2)
Puerto rico
| virgin Islands
89
name ONE U.S. territory (2)
Puerto rico
| virgin Islands
90
Name ONE state that borders Canada (4)
New York
Maine
New Hampshire
vermont
90
Name ONE state that borders Canada (4)
New York
Maine
New Hampshire
vermont
91
name ONE state that borders Mexico
California
arizona
new mexico
91
name ONE state that borders Mexico
California
arizona
new mexico
92
what is the capital of the U.S.
Washington D.C
92
what is the capital of the U.S.
Washington D.C
93
where is the statue of liberty?
new york (harbor)
93
where is the statue of liberty?
new york (harbor)
94
what does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
94
what does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
95
why does the flag have 50 stars?
one start for each state, there are 50 states
95
why does the flag have 50 stars?
one start for each state, there are 50 states
96
what is the name of the national anthem?
the star spangled banner
96
what is the name of the national anthem?
the star spangled banner
97
when do we celebrate Independence day?
July 4th
97
when do we celebrate Independence day?
July 4th
98
name 2 national US holidays
```
Martin Luther King day
columbus day
christmas
thanksgiving
memorial day
independence day
```
98
name 2 national US holidays
```
Martin Luther King day
columbus day
christmas
thanksgiving
memorial day
independence day
```
99
when did you marry your second wife (jeanne)
July 5th 2009
100
when did you divorce your first wife?
??
101
what is your wifes middle name?
Louise
102
what is your father in laws name?
Willie clarence fuqua
