Civics Exam 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 3 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 10 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 Great Britain
- Declared our independence from Great Britain
- Said that the USA is free from Great Britain
What are 2 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 USA ?
- 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 )
- US or national legislature
What are the 2 parts of the US congress ?
- The senate
- The house ( of representatives)
How many US senators are there ?
One hundred ( 100 )
We elect a US senator for how many years ?
6 years
Who is one of your state’s US senators now ?
Answer will vary . ( District of Columbia residents and residents of US territories should answer that D.C. has no US senators )
Explanation : The voters of D.C elect 2 shadow US senators who are known as : “US senators by the District of Columbia “ , but who are NOT officially sworn or seated by the US senate. Shadow senators were first elected in 1990. The current shadow senators are ( 2017 ) : Paul Strauss and Michael Donald Brown
The House of Representatives has how many voting members ?
435
We elect a US Representative for how many years ?
2
Name your US 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 US 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 ?
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 USA 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 ?
Advices the president
What are 2 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 Veteran 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 USA ?
The Supreme Court
How many justices are on the Supreme Court ?
9
Who is the Chief Justice of the USA now ?
John Roberts ( John G Roberts Jr )
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the Federal government. What is one power of the Federal Government ?
- to print money
- to declare war
- to create an army
- to make treaties
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power on the states ?
- provide schooling and education
- provide protection ( police)
- provide safety (fire departments)
- give a driver’s license
- approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state now ?
Answers will vary. District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor
What is the capital of your state ?
Answers will vary. District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital
What are the two major political parties in the USA ?
Republican and Democratic
What is the political party of the president now ?
Republican Party
What is the name of the speaker of the house now ?
- Paul D Ryan
- Paul Ryan
There are 4 Amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them
- citizens 18 and older can vote
- you don’t have to pay ( a poll tax ) to vote
- any citizen can vote ( women and men can vote )
- a male citizen of any race 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 USA ?
- freedom of expression
- freedom of speech
- freedom of assembly
- freedom to petition the government
- freedom of religion
- the right to bear arms
What do we show loyalty to when we say “ The Pledge of Allegiance “ ?
- the USA
- the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen ?
- give up loyalty to other countries
- defend the Constitution and laws of the USA
- obey the laws of the USA
- serve in the USA military if needed
- serve ( do important work for ) the nation if needed
- be loyal to the USA
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
- 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 office
- 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 ?
- at age 18
- between 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America ?
- freedom
- political liberty
- religious freedom
- economic opportunity
- practice their religion
- escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived ?
- American Indians
- Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves ?
- Africans
- people from Africa
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 3 of them
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
From the 5 groups of mnemonics about the 13 original states. Mention C- D - R
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
From the 5 groups of mnemonics about the 13 original states. Mention the “ New States “
- New York
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
From the 5 groups of mnemonics about the 13 original states. Mention the “north and the south”
North Carolina and South Carolina
From the 5 groups of mnemonics about the 13 original states. Mention “ Virginia la virgen PG-13 “
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Georgia
Note: PG-13 as in movies
From the 5 groups of mnemonics about the 13 original states. Mention the - “ 2 Ms “ or the : - “ square root M “ or : - Where does Mary lives ? or - the candy “ M & M “ or - Mary eats M & M
- Massachusetts
- Maryland ( Mary lives in Massachusetts )
- M & M for Maryland and Massachusetts
- Mary eats M & M
What does the next means ? 1- “ VIRGINIA the PG-13 virgin 2- “ goes to the CDR “ 3- “to eat NEW “ 4- “M & Ms “ 5- from the south and from the north
1- Virginia / Pennsylvania/ Georgia 2- Connecticut/ Delaware / Rhode Island 3- New York/ New Jersey/ New Hampshire 4- Maryland & Massachusetts 5- South Carolina/ North Carolina
What happened at the Constitutional Convention ?
- the constitution was written
- the founding fathers wrote the constitution
When was the constitution written ?
1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US constitution. Name one of the writers
- James Madison
- Alexander Hamilton
- John Jay
- Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for ?
- US diplomat
- oldest member of the constitutional convention
- first Postmaster General of the USA
- writer of “ Poor Richard’s Almanac “
- 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 USA buy from France in 1803 ?
- the Louisiana territory
- Louisiana
Name one war fought by the USA in the 1800s
- war of 1812
- Mexican- American War
- Civil War
- Spanish- American War
Name the USA war between the north and the south
- The civil War
- the war between the states
Name one problem that led to the civil war
- slavery
- economic reasons
- state’s rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did ?
- freed the slaves ( Emancipation Proclamation )
- saved ( or preserved ) the Union
- led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do ?
- freed slaves
- freed slaves in the Confederacy
- freed slaves in the Confederate States
- freed slaves in most in most Southern states
What did Susan B Anthony do ?
- fought for women’s rights
- fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the USA in the 1900s
- World War l
- World War ll
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- ( Persian ) Gulf War
Who was the president during world war l ?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was the president during World War ll ?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Who did the USA fight in World war ll ?
Japan, Germany and Italy
Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. What War was he in ?
World war ll
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the USA ?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination ?
Civil rights movement
What did Martin Luther King Jr do ?
- fought for the civil rights
- worked for equality of all Americans
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the USA ?
Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States
- Cherokee
- Seminole
- Navajo
- Sioux
- Apache
- Cheyenne
- Lakota
- Teton
- Oneida
- Inuit
- Huron
- Pueblo
- Creek
- Crow
- Blackfeet
- Chippewa
- Shawnee
- Mohegan
- Arawak
- Hopi
- Iroquois
- Choctaw
Name one of the two longest rivers in the USA
- Missouri
- Mississippi
What ocean is on the west coast of the USA ?
Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the east coast of the USA ?
Atlantic Ocean
Name one US territory
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
Name one state that borders Canada
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Montana
- Idaho
- Washington
- Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico
- California
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Texas
What is the capital of the USA ?
Washington D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty located ?
- New York ( Harbor )
- Liberty Island
Note: Also acceptable are:
1- New Jersey
2- near New York City
3- on the Hudson River
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 there is one star for each state
- because each star represent 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 US holidays
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
