Civics Test Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
Sets up and defines Government and protects Americans basic rights
The idea of self-government is in the first 3 words of the Constitution- what are they?
We the People
What is an amendment?
Change or addition to constitution
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution
Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?
Speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the gov’t
How many amendments does Constitution have?
27
What did the Declartion of Independence do?
Announces and declares independence from Great Britain andthe US is Free
What are 2 rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness
What is freedom of religion?
Can you decide if you want to practice religion.
What is the economic system is the US?
Capitalist and Marke Economy
What is rule of law?
Everyone including leaders and govt must obey and follow law. No one is above the Law.
Name one branch or part of govt?
Congress, legislative, President, Executive
courts, judicial
What stops one branch becoming to powerful?
Checks and balances and separation of powers.
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress, Senate & House of Reps, US or national legislature
What are the 2 parts of the US Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives
How many US Senators are there?
100
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
6 years
Who is the US Senator in your state?
Tammy Baldwin
House of Represenatives have how many voting members?
435
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2
Name your US Representative
Gwen Moore
Who does the US Senator represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
States population
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 US now?
Joe Biden/Donald Trump as of 1/20/25
What is the name of the VP of the US now?
Kamala Harris/ JD Vance
If the president can no longer serve who becomes president?
Vice President
IF President and VP can’t servw who becomes president
Speaker of the House.
Nancy Pelosi/ Mike Johnson
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
President
Who signs bills to become laws?
President
Who vetoes bills?
President
What does the President’s cabinet do?
They advise the President
What are two Cabinet level positions?
Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing & Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Vets Affairs, Attorney General & VP
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews,explains laws, resolves disputes, decides of law goes against Constitution
What is the highest court in the US?
Supreme Court
How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
Who is the Chief Justice of the US Now?
John Roberts
Under our Constitution some pwers belong to the fed govt. What is one power of the fed govt?
Print money, declare war, creat an army, make treaties
Under our Constitution some powers belong to the states, What is one power of the States?
Provide, Schooling, education, police and fire protection, drivers licenses and approve zoning and land use.
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Tony Evers
What is the state capital?
Madison
What are 2 major political parties in hte US?
Democrat & Republican
What is the political party of the Presidnet now?
Biden: Democrat
Trump: Republican
What is the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi /Mike Johnson
4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens 18 yrs and older, you donave to pay a poll tax to vote, Any citizen women or men can vote or male citizen of any reace can vote.
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury and vote in fed election.
Name one right only for US Citizens.
Vote in federal electrion and run for federal office.
What are 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
Freedom of Expression, Speech, Assembly, Petition the govt, religion and right to bear arms.
What do we show loyalty to whne we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Flag and USA
What is one promise you make when you become a US Citizen?
Give up Loyalty to other countries
Defend Constitution & Laws of US
Obey Laws of US
Serve is US Military if Needed
Serve nation if needed
Loyalty to USA
How old do citizens have to be to vote for president?
18
What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
vote, join political party, help campaign, civic and community groups, give opinions, call Reps or Senators, Support or oppose an issue, run of office, write to newspaper
When is the last day you can send Fed Income Tax forms in? *
April 15th
When must all men register for Selective Service?
Age 18 or between 18 & 26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom,. economic opportunity, practice their own religion, escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indian or native American
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
high taxes, soldiers stayed in their homes, they didn’t have self government.
Who wrote Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4th, 1776
There were 13 original states, name 3.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
teh Constitution was written and Founding Fatehrs wrote it.
When was the Constitution written?
1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constituion
Name one of the Writers?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
US diplomat, oldest member of Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General of US, started first free Libraries.
Who is the Father of our Country
George Washington
Who is the first President?
George Washington
What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
Louisana Territory / Louisiana
Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-american war
Civil war
Spanish american War
Mae the US War between North and South.
Civil War
Name one problem that led to Civil War?
Slavery, Economic, and State’s rights
What was one important thing taht Abe Lincoln did? *
freed slabves, saved union, led US during the Civil war.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed Slaves, and in the South and Confederacy
What did Susan B Anthony do?
Fought for Womens Rights and civil rights
Name one war fought by US in the 1900s. *
WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War
Who was President during WWI?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and WWII?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the US fight in WWII
Germany, Japan, Italy
Before he was President - Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
WWII
During Cold War,k What was main concern of the US?
Communism
What movement dtried to end racial Discrimination?
Civil rights Movement
What did Martin Luther King Jr do?
Fought for civil rights, worked for equality for all Americans
What major event happend in the US on 9/11/2001?
Terrorists attacked the US
Name one American Indian Tribes in the US?
Cherokee, Navajo, Siux, Chippewa,m Crow, Creek, Oneida
Name one of the two longest rivers in the US
Missouri, Mississippi
What ocean is on the west coast of US
Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the east coast of US
Atlantic Ocean
Name one US Territory
Guam, Puerto Rico, North Mariana islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa
Name one state that borders Canada
Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, Montana, Washington, New York
Name one state that borders Mexico
Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico
What is the capital of the US?*
Washington DC
Where is teh Statue fo LIberty?*
New York Harbor aka Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 stripes
Original Colonies 13
Why does flag have 50 stars?*
For all the states
What is the nation of National Anthem?
Star Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence day
July 4th
Name 2 national US Holidays.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, MLK JR DAY, Presidents day, memorial , independence, labor, columbus, vets day DAY
