Citizenship Interview Questions Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
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 or 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
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
announced our independence from the Great Britain
declared our independence from the Great Britain
said that the United States is free from the 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 court 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 the federal laws?
Congress (senate & hose of rep)
What are the TWO parts of the U.S. Congress?
The senate
and the 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?
Ted Cruz
John Cornyn
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
Name your U.S. representative.
John Culberson
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
2
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 United States now?
Donald J. Trump
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Mike 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 vetos bills?
the President
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
advises the President
What are TWO cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of State
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews 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 Roberts Jr.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is ONE power of the federal government?
print money
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is ONE power of the states?
give driver’s license
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Greg Abbot
What is the capital of your state?
Austin
What are the TWO major political parties in the United States?
Democratic party
Republican party
What is the political party of the President now?
Republican
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Paul Ryan
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them.
Any citizen can vote.
What is ONE responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
vote in a federal election
Name ONE right only for United States citizens.
vote in a federal election
What are TWO rights of everyone living in the United States?
freedom of speech
freedom of religion
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?
obey the laws of the United States
serve in the U.S. military if needed
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
write 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?
between 18 to 26
What is ONE reason colonists came to America?
For Freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
What group of people was taken to American and sold as slaves?
Africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
because of high taxes
because British army stayed in their houses
because they didn’t have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4th, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name THREE.
New Hampshire
Massachusettes
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 U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers.
John Jay
What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
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
Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Civil War
Name the U.S. war between North and the South
the Civil War
Name ONE problem that led to the Civil War
slavery
What was ONE important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
freed the slaves - Emancipation Proclamation
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women’s rights
Name ONE war fought by the United States in 1900s.
Korean 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 United States fight in World War II?
Germany, Italy, Japan
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
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorist attacked the United States
Name ONE American Indian tribe in the United States
Cherokee
Name ONE of the two longest rivers in the United States
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
Guam
Name ONE state that borders Canada.
Washington
Name ONE state that borders Mexico
Texas
What is the Capital of the United States?
Washington D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor
Why do the flag have 13 stripes?
they represent 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
50 states - each star presents each state in United States
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th
Name TWO national holidays
Memorial day, Independence Day
