Citizen Flashcards
What is the supreme Law?
The constitution.
What does the constitution do?
Sets up the government
The constitution does what?
Define the government
What protects basic rights of Americans?
The constitution
What are the first three words of the constitution
“We the people”
What is an amendment?
A change or addition to the constitution.
What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is the Bill of Rights?
First 10 amendments to the constitution.
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?
Announce the US independence of Great Britain.
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice or not practice any religion.
What is economic system in the US?
Capitalist Economy
Market Economy
What is the “Rule of Law”?
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?
Congress Legislative President Executive The courts Judicial
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 representative
U.S or National Legislature
What are two parts of the U.S Congress?
The Senate and House of Representatives
How many U.S Senator are there?
100
We elect a U.S Senator for how many years?
6
Who is one of your State U.S Senators now?
Tim Kane
Mark R Warner
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a U.S Representative for how many years?
2
Name your U.S Representative.
Robert C. Scott
Democrat
Who does a U.S Senator Represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than other states?
State population
More people
How long is a President elected for?
4 years
In what month do we vote for President ?
November
Who is the current president?
Donald John Trump
Who is the Vice President?
Mike R. Pence
Who becomes the president when the president can no longer serve?
The Vice President
If the president and Vice President can not 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 cabinet do?
Advises the President
What are two cabinet-level positions?
Vice President Attorney General Secretary of: Agriculture Commerce Defense Education Energy Health and Human Services Homeland Security Housing and Urban Development Interior Labor State Transportation Treasury Veterans Affairs
What does the judicial branch do?
Review laws
Explain laws
Resolves disputes
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?
9
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John G. Roberts
What is one power of the federal government?
Print money
Declare war
Create an army
To make treaties
What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education Providing Protection (police) Provide Safety( fire department) Give a driver's license Approve zoning and land use
Who is the governor of your state?
Governor Terry McAuliffe
What is your state capital?
Richmond
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Republican party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Paul D. Ryan
There are four amendments to the constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens 18 an older can vote
Dont 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 US citizen?
Serve on a jury
Vote in federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens.
Vote in a federal election
Run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of: Expression Speech Assembly Petition the Government Religion 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 a 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 U.S military
Serve the nation be loyal to the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18+
What are two 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 senator 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 15th
When must all men register for selective service?
18-26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom Political 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 colonists fight the British?
High taxes( taxation without representation)
British army stayed in their houses
Lack of 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 Massachusetts Rhode island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia
What happened at the constitutional convention?
Constitution was written
When was the constitution written?
1787
The federalist papers supported the passage of the U.S constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John jay
Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S Diplomat
Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
First Postmaster General of the United States
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 United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana Territory
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
Name the I.S war between North and South.
Civil War
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
Saved the Union
Led the United States during the civil war
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for women’s rights
Fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World war 1 World war 2 Korean War Vietnam war Persian Gulf War
Who was President during World War 1?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War 2?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War 2?
Japan, Germany, and Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What ware was he in?
World War 2
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 United States?
Terrorist attack the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
Navajo
Blackfeet
Mohegan
Name one of the two longest 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 U.S territory.
Puerto rico U.S Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
Michigan
New York
Ohio
Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington D.C
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York (Harbor)
Or
Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because there were 13 original colonies.
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
There is one per state.
What is the name of the National Anthem?
The star-spangled banner
When do we celebrate independence day?
July 4
Name two national U.S holidays.
New Years day
Mlk day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
