civics test Flashcards
1
Q
What is the supreme law of the land?
A
The Constitution
2
Q
What does the Constitution do?
A
defines the fundamental law of the U.S. federal gov., setting forth the 3 principal branch’s of the federal gov. and outlining their jurisdictions
3
Q
The idea of self-gov. is in the first words of the Constitution. What are these words?
A
“We the people”
4
Q
What is an amendment?
A
An article added to the US Constitution
5
Q
What do we call the first 10 amendments in the Constitution?
A
The Bill of Rights
6
Q
What freedoms are guaranteed by the 1st Amendment?
A
speech
religion
press
petition
assembly
7
Q
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A
27
8
Q
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A
Break up letter with Britain
9
Q
What are the human rights found in the Declaration of Independence?
A
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
10
Q
What is freedom of religion?
A
The right to practice whatever religion one chooses
11
Q
What is the economic system in the U.S.?
A
Capitalism/market
12
Q
What is the “rule of law”?
A
Political philosophy that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders.
13
Q
Name the 3 branch’s of gov.?
A
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
14
Q
What stops one branch of gov. from becoming too powerful?
A
Checks and Balances
15
Q
Who is in charge of the nations executive branch?
A
The President of the U.S.
16
Q
Who makes federal laws?
A
Houses of Congress
17
Q
What are the 2 parts of the U.S. Congress?
A
The Senate and The House of Representatives
18
Q
How many senators make up the U.S. Senate?
A
2 Senators from each state, 100
19
Q
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A
6 years, but 1/3 of the total membership of the Senate is elected every 2 years
20
Q
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A
435 members
21
Q
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A
2 - year terms
22
Q
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A
Their State
23
Q
Why do some states have more Representatives then other states?
A
Population
24
Q
We elect a president for how many years?
A
4 years
25
In what month do we vote for a President?
November
26
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe them:
15th Amend., a male citizen of any race can vote.
19th Amend., both women and men can vote.
24th Amend., no one has to pay to vote.
26th Amend., citizens 18+ can vote.
27
What is the name of the President of the U.S. now?
Joe Biden
28
What is the name of the Vice President of the U.S. now?
Kamala Harris
29
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 years old
30
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President of the U.S.
31
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
32
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President
33
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President
34
Who vetoes the bills?
The President
35
What does the Presidents Cabinet do?
Advise the President
36
What are the powers of the Judicial Branch?
Interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases.
37
What is the highest court in the U.S. ?
The Supreme Court of the U.S.
38
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
39
Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. now?
John G. Roberts, Jr.
40
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal gov. . What are the 5 powers of the federal gov. ?
Power to coin money
Regulate commerce
Declare war
Maintain Armed Forces
Establish a Post Office
41
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What are 3 examples of powers belonging to the states?
Creating School Systems
Overseeing State Courts
Creating Public Safety Systems
Managing Business and Trade within the State
Managing Local Gov.
42
What is the Capital of your State?
Oklahoma City
43
What are 2 major political parties in the U.S. ?
The Democratic and Republican Parties
44
What is the Political Party of the President now?
Democratic Party
45
What national elected office does Nancy Pelosi now hold?
52nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (NOW Kevin McCarthy)
46
What are some responsibilities that are only for U.S. citizens?
Participate in the political process by registering and voting in elections
47
What are some rights of everyone living in the U.S. ?
Right to Life, Liberty, and Personal Security
48
Name a right only for U.S. citizens?
Vote in federal elections
49
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag?
The U.S.
50
What is a promise you make when you become a U.S. citizen?
to protect the Constitution and all laws from all enemies, other countries, or from inside the U.S.
51
What is a way that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Vote
52
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15th
53
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Within 30 days of his 18th birthday
54
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
To Represent the 13 original colonies
55
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
To Represent the 50 states
56
Name the 13 original colonies:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
57
Name 5 major American Indian tribes in the U.S. :
Cherokees
Chickasaws
Choctaws
Creeks
Seminoles
58
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
59
What is one reason early colonists came to America?
To make money, or set up trade with their home country
60
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
61
Why did the colonists fight the British?
They were angry that they did not have self - gov.
62
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
63
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
August 2nd, 1776
64
What are 2 things Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
Founding Father that signed all 3 documents that freed America from Britain
He made quite a few famous inventions
65
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
For the young country's problems to set aside the Articles of Confederation and write a new Constitution
66
When was the Constitution written?
1787
67
The Federalist papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name the writers:
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
James Madison
68
Who is called the "Father of Our Country"?
George Washington
69
Who served as a military leader during our War for Independence and later elected as our first President?
George Washington
70
What territory did the U.S. buy from France in 1803?
Territory of Louisiana
71
What wars were fought by the U.S. in the 1800's?
The War of 1812
The Mexican - American War
The Civil War
The Spanish - American War
72
Name the U.S. War between the North and the South?
The American Civil War
73
What problems led to the Civil War?
Economic Policies and Practices
Cultural Values
The role of slavery within American Society
74
What were at least 2 important things that President Abraham Lincoln did?
Successfully waged a political struggle and civil war that preserved the Union
Ended Slavery
75
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."
76
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Champion of temperance
Abolition
The rights of labor
Equal pay for equal work.
77
What wars were fought by the U.S. in the 1900's ?
World War I
World War II
The Korean War
The Vietnam War
The Gulf War
78
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
79
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt
80
Who did the U.S. fight in World War II?
Germany, Italy and Japan
81
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the U.S. ?
Communism
82
Before He was President, Eisenhower was a general. In what war did he serve?
Pancho Villa Expedition
World War I
World War II
83
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights movement
84
What did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
Adoption of nonviolent resistance to achieve equal rights for Black Americans
85
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the U.S. ?
Terrorists attack the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington D.C.
86
Name the longest river in the U.S. :
Missouri River
87
What ocean is on the West Coast of the U.S. ?
The Pacific Ocean
88
What ocean is on the East Coast of the U.S. ?
The Atlantic Ocean
89
Name the 5 inhabited U.S. territories :
Puerto Rico
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
American Samoa
U.S. Virgin Islands
90
Name the states that border Mexico :
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
91
Name the states that border Canada :
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska
92
What is the Capital of the U.S. ?
Washington, D.C.
93
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th
94
Name the 11 National Holidays :
New Years Day
Martin Luther King's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
95
What famous national landmark can be seen on Liberty Island in New York harbor, welcoming immigrants to the U.S. ?
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
96
What is the name of the National Anthem?
Star Spangled Banner
97
Name the current Governor of the State of Oklahoma :
Kevin Stitt
98
Name the current Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General :
Antony Blinken
Dr Janet Yellen
Lloyd Austin
Merrick Garland
99
Name the U.S. Senators Representing Oklahoma :
James Lankford
Markwayne Mullin
100
Name the U.S. Representative currently serving your district of Oklahoma :
Tom Cole
