Citizen 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 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 amendments
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.
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 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
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C.
(or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
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.
Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may
provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has
no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]
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?
▪ four (4)
In what month do we vote for President?*
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
▪ Donald J. Trump
▪ Donald Trump
▪ Trump
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
▪ Michael R. Pence
▪ Mike Pence
▪ 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?
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
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?
9
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
▪ John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)