Civics Flashcards
What’s 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/ 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
press
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
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
President
the courts
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?*
Ted Cruz
John Cornyn
(Both Republican)
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.
Michael McCaul (R)
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because) they have more people
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?*
Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
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 State
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Defense
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
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
to print money
to declare war
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
provide schooling and education
give a driver’s license
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Greg Abbott
What is the capital of your state?*
Austin
What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic (Party)
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 eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
serve on a jury
vote in a 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 religion
freedom of speech
freedom of expression
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?
be loyal to the United States
give up loyalty to other countries
obey the laws of the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
18 and older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
vote
call Senators and Representatives
run for office
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
Apr 15
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Between 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
religious freedom
economic opportunity
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?
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
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New York
Maryland
Virginia
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.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S. diplomat
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
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Civil War
Mexican-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
the Civil War
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery
economic reasons
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women’s rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
World War I
World War II
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?
Japan, Germany, and 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 United States?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights (movement)
worked for equality for all Americans
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 United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
Navajo
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.
Guam
Puerto Rico
Name one state that borders Canada
Washington
New York
Name one state that borders Mexico.
Texas
California
What is the capital of the United States?*
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
because the stripes represent the original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
because each star represents a state
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 U.S. holidays.
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Memorial Day
Independence Day
