Civics Test Flashcards
1
Q
What is the form of government of the United States?
A
Republic
2
Q
What is the supreme law of the land?
A
Constitution
3
Q
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
A
Protects the rights of the people, Forms the government, Defines powers of government, Defines the parts of government,
4
Q
What does “We the People” mean?
A
Self-government
5
Q
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
A
Amendments
6
Q
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
A
Rights of Americans, Rights of people living in the United States
7
Q
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
A
27
8
Q
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
A
It says all people are created equal, It says America is free from British control, It identifies individual freedoms.
9
Q
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
A
Declaration of Independence
10
Q
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
A
Equality, Liberty
11
Q
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
A
Declaration of Independence
12
Q
What is the economic system of the United States?
A
Capitalism
13
Q
What is the rule of law?
A
Everyone must follow the law.
14
Q
What is a document that influenced the U.S Constitution?
A
Declaration of Independence
15
Q
There are three branches of government, why?
A
So one part does not become too powerful
16
Q
Name the three branches of government.
A
Legislative, executive, judicial
17
Q
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
A
Executive branch
18
Q
What part of the federal government writes laws?
A
Congress
19
Q
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A
Senate, House of Representatives
20
Q
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
A
Writes laws, Declares war
21
Q
How many U.S. senators are there?
A
100
22
Q
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
A
6
23
Q
Who is one of Alabama state’s U.S. senators now?
A
Tommy Tuberville
24
Q
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
A
435
25
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
2.
26
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To avoid being unduly threatened by public opinion
27
How many senators does each state have?
2
28
Why does each state have two senators?
The Great Compromise, Equal representation
29
Who is Alabama U.S. representative.
Mike Rogers
30
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Kevin McCarthy
31
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens for their state
32
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
33
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Portion of their state
34
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their district
35
Some states have more representatives than other states, why?
The states population
36
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
4
37
The President of the United States can serve only two terms, why?
The 22nd Amendment
38
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Joe Biden
39
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala harris
40
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
Vice President
41
Name one power of the president.
Sign bills
42
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
President
43
Who signs bills to become laws?
President
44
Who vetoes bills?
The President
45
Who appoints federal judges?
President
46
The executive branch has many parts.
President, Cabinet
47
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President
48
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General, Secretary of State
49
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president.
50
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court, Federal Courts
51
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws, Explains laws
52
What is the highest court in the United States?
Supreme Court
53
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
9
54
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
5
55
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
Life
56
Supreme Court justices serve for life, why?
To be independent
57
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John Roberts
58
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print Money, Mint coins, Declare war, Create an army, Make treaties, Set foreign policy
59
Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education
60
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
61
Who is the governor of your state now?
Kay Ivey
62
What is the capital of your state?
Montgomery
63
There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
18
64
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens
65
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, The right to bear arms
66
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
United States
67
Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries, Obey the laws of the United States
68
How can people become United States citizens?
Naturalize
69
What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote, Join a political party
70
What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Pay Taxes, Vote, Obey the law, Serve in the military, Run for office, Work for local, state, or federal government
71
Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
72
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law
73
The colonists came to America for many reasons.
Freedom
74
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
75
What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans
76
What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
77
Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
Taxation without representation
78
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
79
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
80
The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
Battle of Bunker Hill
81
There were 13 original states. Name five.
New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
82
What founding document was written in 1787?
Constitution
83
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison
84
Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the Constitution
85
Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Founded the first free public libraries, First Postmaster General of the United States, Helped write the Declaration of Independence, Inventor of lightning rod, Bifocals
86
George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
First President
87
Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
88
James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
Father of the Constitution
89
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
90
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana
91
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Spanish-American War, War of 1812, Civil War
92
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
93
The Civil War had many important events. Name one
Battle of Fort Sumter
94
Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one
Freed the slaves
95
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
96
What U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War
97
What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?
14th Amendment
98
When did all men get the right to vote?
15th Amendment or 1870
99
Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
100
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War II
101
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. Ships
102
When did all women get the right to vote?
19th Amendment
103
What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
104
When did the Great Depression start?
1929
105
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II
Franklin Roosevelt
106
Why did the United States enter World War II?
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
107
Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
108
Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
109
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism, Nuclear War
110
Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
111
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism
112
What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
113
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
Worked for equality for all Americans
114
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
115
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
116
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks
War in Afghanistan
117
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
118
Name one example of an American innovation
Light Bulb, Cars, Planes
119
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
120
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York
121
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
represent the original colonies
122
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
50 states
123
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
124
The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Out of many, one
125
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence
126
Name three national U.S. holidays.
Thanksgiving Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
127
What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
128
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people who have served
