Civics Test Flashcards
What is the form of government of the United States?
Republic
What is the supreme law of the land?
Constitution
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Protects the rights of the people, Forms the government, Defines powers of government, Defines the parts of government,
What does “We the People” mean?
Self-government
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
Rights of Americans, Rights of people living in the United States
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
27
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says all people are created equal, It says America is free from British control, It identifies individual freedoms.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality, Liberty
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
Declaration of Independence
What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law.
What is a document that influenced the U.S Constitution?
Declaration of Independence
There are three branches of government, why?
So one part does not become too powerful
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, judicial
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
What part of the federal government writes laws?
Congress
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate, House of Representatives
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws, Declares war
How many U.S. senators are there?
100
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
6
Who is one of Alabama state’s U.S. senators now?
Tommy Tuberville
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
435
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
2.
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To avoid being unduly threatened by public opinion
How many senators does each state have?
2
Why does each state have two senators?
The Great Compromise, Equal representation
Who is Alabama U.S. representative.
Mike Rogers
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Kevin McCarthy
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens for their state
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Portion of their state
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their district
Some states have more representatives than other states, why?
The states population
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
4
The President of the United States can serve only two terms, why?
The 22nd Amendment
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?
Vice President
Name one power of the president.
Sign bills
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
President
Who signs bills to become laws?
President
Who vetoes bills?
The President
Who appoints federal judges?
President
The executive branch has many parts.
President, Cabinet
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General, Secretary of State
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president.
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court, Federal Courts
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws, Explains laws
What is the highest court in the United States?
Supreme Court
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
9
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
5
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
Life
Supreme Court justices serve for life, why?
To be independent
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John Roberts
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print Money, Mint coins, Declare war, Create an army, Make treaties, Set foreign policy
Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
Who is the governor of your state now?
Kay Ivey
What is the capital of your state?
Montgomery
There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
18
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, The right to bear arms
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
United States
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
How can people become United States citizens?
Naturalize
What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote, Join a political party
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
Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law
The colonists came to America for many reasons.
Freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans
What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
Taxation without representation
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
Battle of Bunker Hill
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
What founding document was written in 1787?
Constitution
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison
Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the Constitution
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
George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
First President
Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
Father of the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Spanish-American War, War of 1812, Civil War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
The Civil War had many important events. Name one
Battle of Fort Sumter
Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one
Freed the slaves
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
What U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War
What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?
14th Amendment
When did all men get the right to vote?
15th Amendment or 1870
Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War II
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. Ships
When did all women get the right to vote?
19th Amendment
What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
When did the Great Depression start?
1929
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II
Franklin Roosevelt
Why did the United States enter World War II?
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism, Nuclear War
Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism
What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
Worked for equality for all Americans
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks
War in Afghanistan
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
Name one example of an American innovation
Light Bulb, Cars, Planes
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
represent the original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
50 states
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Out of many, one
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence
Name three national U.S. holidays.
Thanksgiving Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people who have served
