Attorney Questions Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do? (3 things)
-sets up the government
-defines the government
-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? (2 things)
-a change (to the Constitution)
-an addition (to the Constitution)
What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment (5 options)
-speech
-religion
-assembly
-press
-petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do? (3 things)
-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? (3 choices)
-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”? (4 things)
-everyone must follow the law
-leaders must obey the law
-government must obey the law
-no one is above the law
Name one branch or part of the government?
-Executive (President)
-Judicial (the courts)
-Legislative (Congress)
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? (2 things)
-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 (US or national)
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
-Senate
-House of Representatives
How many US senators are there?
100 (2 from each state)
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
6 years
Who is one of your state’s US Senators now?
-Adam Schiff (Democrat)
-Alex Padilla (Democrat)
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2 years
Name your US Representative
Who does a US Senator represent?
all people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than others?
-differences in population between states
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 US now?
Joe Biden (or Donald Trump depending on exam date)
What is the name of the Vice President of the US right now?
Kamala Harris (or J.D. Vance depending on exam date)
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Vice President
If the President and 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, secretaries of:
-agriculture, commerce, defense, education, energy, homeland security, labor, state, transportation, treasury
What does the judicial branch do? (4 things)
-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 right now?
John G. Roberts, Jr.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? (4 choices)
-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? (5 choices)
-provide schooling and education
-provide protection (police)
-provide safety (fire departments)
-give a driver’s license
-approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Gavin Newsome
What is the capital of your state?
Sacramento
What are the two major political parties in the US?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President right now?
Democrat (if Joe Biden), Republican (if Donald Trump)
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Mike Johnson
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
-Citizens 18 or older can vote
-You don’t have to pay to vote
-Any citizen can vote (women and men)
-A male citizen of any race can vote
What is one responsibility that is only for US citizens? (two choices)
-serve on a jury
-vote in a federal election
Name one right only for US citizens (two choices)
-vote in a federal election
-run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the US? (six choices)
-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 US (or the flag)
What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen? (six choices)
-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
-serve (do important work) the nation (if needed)
-be loyal to the US
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? (ten choices)
-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
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 years old
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 or between 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America? (six choices)
-freedom
-political liberty
-religious freedom
-economic opportunity
-practice their religion
-escape persecution
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? (three choices)
-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 three.
-New Hampshire
-Massachusetts
-Rhode Island
-Connecticut
-New Jersey
-New York
-Pennsylvania
-Delaware
-Maryland
-Virginia
-North Carolina
-South Carolina
-Georgia
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
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. (four choices)
-James Madison
-Alexander Hamilton
-John Jay
-Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? (five choices)
-US diplomat
-oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
-first Postmaster General of the US
-write 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
Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s (four choices)
-War of 1812
-Mexican-American War
-Civil War
-Spanish-American War
Name the US war between the North and the South.
the Civil War
Name one problem that led to the Civil War (three choices)
-slavery
-economic reasons
-states’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? (three choices)
-freed the slaves
-saved (or preserved) the Union
-led the US during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves in the Confederate States
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women’s/civil rights
Name one war fought by the US in the 1900s (five choices)
-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 World War II? (three countries)
-Japan
-Germany
-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/equality for all Americans
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the US?
Terrorists attacked the US
Name one American Indian tribe in the US
Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Iroquois, Seminole, Teton, Hopi
Name one of the two longest rivers in the US
-Missouri River
-Mississippi River
What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?
Pacific
What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?
Atlantic
Name one US territory (five choices)
-Puerto Rico
-US Virgin Islands
-American Samoa
-Northern Mariana Islands
-Guam
Name one state that borders Canada
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico (four choices)
-California
-Arizona
-New Mexico
-Texas
What is the capital of the US?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor (Liberty Island)
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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 (eleven choices)
-New Year’s Day
-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
-Presidents’ Day
-Memorial Day
-Juneteenth
-Independence Day
-Labor Day
-Columbus Day
-Veterans’ Day
-Thanksgiving
-Christmas
