civics 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 do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is an amendment?
a change to the Constitution
an addition 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?
announced our independence
declared our independence
said that the US is free
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of hapiness
What is freedom of religion?
you can practice any religion, or not practice a religion
What is the economic system in the US?
capitalist economy
What is the ‘rule of law’?
Everyone must follow the law
No one is above the law
Name one branch or part of the government
Congress
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
separation of powers
Who is in change of the executive branch?
the President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Senate and the house of representatives
US national legislature
What are the two parts of the US congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
How many US senators are there?
100
We elect US senators for how many year?
6 years
WHo is one of your state’s US senators now?
Kirsten Gillibrand
Chuck Schumer
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect US representatives for how many years?
2 years
Name your US representative / congressman
Jerry Nadler
Who does a US Senator represent?
all of the people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Because of the state’s population
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?
President Joe Biden
What is the name of the VP of the US now?
Kamala Harris
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the VP
If both the President and the VP can no longer serve, who becomes the 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?
advise the President
What are two Cabinet level positions?
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Defense
Vice president
What does the judicial branch do?
review laws
explains laws
resolves disputes
What is the highest court in the US?
the Supreme Court
How many justices are on the Supreme court?
9 justices
Who is the Chief Justice of the US?
John Robert
What is one power of the federal
government?
to print money
to create an army
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
provide schooling and education
provide protection
Who is the Governor of NY?
Kathy Hochul
What is the capital of NY?
Albany
What are two major political parties in the US?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi
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 US
the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
give up loyalty to other countries
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
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
What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
Who live 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?
because of high taxes
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 York
Maryland
Massachussetts
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
When was the Constitution written?
1778
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
US diplomat
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?
Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s
Civil War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
Civil war
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
freed the slaves
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 the 1900s.*
WWI
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, Japan, and Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
WWII
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights movemenet
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
fought for civil rights
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the US
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
Navajo
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Mississippi
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific
Name one US territory
Puerto Rico
guam
Name one state that borders Canada
New York
Name one state that borders Mexico
California
What is the capital of the US?
Washington DC
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
NY
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
because there is 1 star per state
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th
Name two national US holidays
Thanksgiving
Christmas