CIVICS 2008 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the supreme law of the land?`

A

The Constitution

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2
Q

What does the constitution do?

A

Sets up the government
Defines the government
Protects basic rights of Americans

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3
Q

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words?

A

We the People

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4
Q

What is an amendment?

A
A change (to the constitution)
An addition (to the constitution)
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5
Q

What do we call the first ten amendments to the constitution?

A

The Bill of Rights

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6
Q

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

A
Speech
Religion
Assembly
Press
Petition the Government
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7
Q

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

A

27

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8
Q

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

A

Announced our independence (From Great Britain)
Declared our independence (From Great Britain)
Said that the United States is free (From Great Britain)

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9
Q

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

A

Life
Liberty
The Pursuit of Happiness

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10
Q

What is freedom of religion?

A

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion

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11
Q

What is the economic system in the United States?

A

Capitalist economy

Market economy

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12
Q

What is the “rule of law”?

A

Everyone must follow the law
Leaders must follow the law
Government must obey the law
No one is above the law

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13
Q

Name one branch or part of the government

A
Congress
Legislative
The President
Executive
The Courts
Judicial
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14
Q

What stops one branch from becoming too powerful?

A

Checks and balances

Separation of powers

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15
Q

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

A

The President

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16
Q

Who makes federal laws?

A

Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
US (or national) legislature

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17
Q

What are the two parts of the US Congress?

A

The Senate and the House of Representatives

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18
Q

How many US Senators are there?

A

100

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19
Q

We elect a US Senator for how many years?

A

Six

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20
Q

Who is one of your state’s senators right now?

A

Chuck Schumer, Kristin Gillibrand

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21
Q

The US House of Representatives has how many voting members?

A

435

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22
Q

We elect a US Representative for how many years?

A

2

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23
Q

Name your US Representative?

A

Carolyn Maloney

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24
Q

Who does a US Senator represent?

A

All people of the state

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25
Q

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

A

(Because of) the state’s population
(Because) they have more people
(Because) some states have more people

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26
Q

We elect a President for how many years?

A

4

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27
Q

In what month do we vote for the President?

A

November

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28
Q

What is the name of the President of the US now?

A

Joe Biden

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29
Q

What is the name of the Vice-President of the US Now?

A

Kamala Harris

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30
Q

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes the President?

A

The Vice-President

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31
Q

If the President and the Vice-President can no longer serve, who becomes the President?

A

The Speaker of the House

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32
Q

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

A

The President

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33
Q

Who signs bills to become laws?

A

The President

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34
Q

Who vetoes bills?

A

The President

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35
Q

What does the President’s cabinet do?

A

Advises the President

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36
Q

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

A
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defence
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
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37
Q

What does the judiciary do?

A

Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolves disputes (disagreements)
Decides if a law goes against the constitution

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38
Q

What is the highest court of the United States?

A

The Supreme Court

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39
Q

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

A

9

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40
Q

Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court now?

A

John Roberts

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41
Q

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

A

To print money
To declare war
To make treaties
To create an army

42
Q

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

A
Provide schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver's license
Approve zoning and land use
43
Q

Who is the Governor of your state now?

A

Kathy Hochul

44
Q

What is the capital of your state?

A

Albany

45
Q

What are the two major political parties of the United States?

A

Democrats and Republicans?

46
Q

What is the political party of the President now?

A

Democrat

47
Q

What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives now?

A

Nancy Pelosi

48
Q

There are four amendments to the constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them!

A

Citizens eighteen and older can vote
You don’t have to pay a poll tax to vote
Any citizen can vote
A male citizen of any race can vote

49
Q

What is one responsibility that is only for US Citizens?

A

Serve on a jury

Vote in a federal election

50
Q

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

A
Freedom of expression
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom of religion
The right to bear arms
51
Q

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

A

The flag

The United States

52
Q

What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?

A

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 US military (if necessary)
Serve (do important work) the nation (if needed)
Be loyal to the US

53
Q

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

A

18

54
Q

What are two ways that Americans can participate in democracy?

A
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 Senators and representatives
Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
Run for an office
Write to a newspaper
55
Q

What is the last day you can send in Federal Income Tax returns?

A

April 15

56
Q

When must all men register for selective service?

A

At age 18

Between 18 and 26

57
Q

Name one right only for US Citizens

A

Vote in a federal election

Run for Federal Office

58
Q

What is one reason colonists came to America?

A
Freedom
Political Liberty
Religious Freedom
Economic Opportunity
Practice their religion
Escape persecution
59
Q

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

A

American Indians

Native Americans

60
Q

What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

A

Africans

People from Africa

61
Q

Why did the colonists fight the British?

A

Because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
Because the British army stayed in their houses (Boarding/Quartering)
Because they didn’t have self-government

62
Q

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence

A

Jefferson

63
Q

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

A

July 4, 1776

64
Q

There were 13 Original States. Name Three:

A
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
65
Q

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

A

The Founding Fathers wrote the constitution

The constitution was written

66
Q

When was the constitution written?

A

1787

67
Q

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the Constitution. Name one of the writers.

A

Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
James Madison

68
Q

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

A

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

69
Q

Who is the “Father of our Country”

A

George Washington

70
Q

Who was the first President?

A

George Washington

71
Q

What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?

A

Louisiana

The Louisiana Territory

72
Q

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

A

The War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish American War

73
Q

Name the US war between the North and the South?

A

The Civil War

The War between the States

74
Q

Name one problem that led to the civil war.

A

Slavery
Economic reasons
States’ rights

75
Q

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

A

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
Saved (or preserved) the union
led the United States during the Civil War

76
Q

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

A

Freed the slaves
Freed slaves in the Confederacy
Freed slaves in the Confederate States
Freed slaves in most Southern states

77
Q

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

A

Fought for women’s rights

Fought for civil rights

78
Q

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

A
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
79
Q

Who was the President during World War I?

A

Woodrow Wilson

80
Q

Who was the President during the Great Depression and World War II?

A

Franklin Roosevelt

81
Q

Who did the United States fight in WWII?

A

Italy, Germany, Japan

82
Q

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war did he serve in?

A

World War II

83
Q

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

A

Communism

84
Q

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

A

Civil rights movement

85
Q

What did Martin Luther King Jr. do?

A

Fought for civil rights

Worked for equality for all Americans

86
Q

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

A

Terrorists attacked the United States

87
Q

Name one American Indian Tribe in the US?

A
Navajo
Cherokee
Huron
Inuit
Mohegan
Pueblo
ETC!!!
88
Q

Name one of the two longest rivers in the US?

A

Mississipi (River)

Missouri (River)

89
Q

What Ocean is on the West Coast of the US?

A

Pacific Ocean

90
Q

What Ocean is on the East Coast of the US?

A

Atlantic Ocean

91
Q

Name one US territory?

A

Puerto Rico
Guam
US Virgin Island
American Samoa

92
Q

Name one state that borders Canada?

A
New York
Maine 
Vermont
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Idaho
Washington
Alaska
93
Q

Name one state that borders Mexico?

A

Texas
Arizona
California
New Mexico

94
Q

What is the Capital of the US

A

Washington DC

95
Q

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

A
New York (Harbour)
Liberty Island
96
Q

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

A

Because there were 13 original colonies

Because the stripes represent the original colonies

97
Q

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

A

Because there is one star for each state
Because each star represents a state
Because there are 50 states

98
Q

What is the name of the national anthem?

A

Star-spangled banner

99
Q

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

A

July 4th!

100
Q

Name two US national holidays

A
New Years' Day
Martin Luther King Day
President's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labour Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas