Civics Test Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
- sets up the government
- defines the government
- protects the basic rights of Americans
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What is an amendment?
- a change
* an addition
What do we call the first the 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 (twenty-seven)
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
• announced our independence
• declared out independence
• said that the United States is free
– (from Great Britain)
What are TWO rights in the Declaration of Independence
- life
- liberty
- pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion
You can practice any religion or no religion at all
What is the economic system in the United States?
- 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)
- legislature (US or National)
What are the TWO parts of the U.S. Congress
the Senate and House (of Representatives
How many U.S. Senators are there
100 (one hundred)
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
6 (six)
Who is ONE of your state’s U.S Senators now?
- Thom Tillis
* Richard Burr.
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435 (four hundred thirty-five)
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
2 (two)
Name your U.S. Representative
Robert Pittenger
Who does a U.S. Senator represent
all the people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
based on the state’s populations
NOTE: The more people there are in a state the more Representatives there will be
We elect a President for how many years?
4 (four)
NOTE: The 22nd amendment established a 2 term limit (8 years) on the President
In what month do we vote for President
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Donald J. Trump
NOTE: the 45th President
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now
Mike 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 Cheif 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?
advises the President
What are TWO 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 Interior
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Veterans 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 United States?
the Supreme Court
How many justices (judges) are on the Supreme Court?
9 (nine)
Who is the Cheif Justice (judge) of the United States
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 the ONE power of the States?
- provide schooling and education
- provide protection (police)
- provide safety ( fire department)
- give a drivers license
- approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state (North Carolina)?
Roy Cooper
What is the capital of your state (North Carolina)?
Raleigh
What are the TWO major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
NOTE: the Democratic Party is the oldest party
What is the political party of the President now?
Republican Party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
Paul D. Ryan
There ar four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them
- Citizens 18 (eighteen) years of age or older.
- You don’t have to pay to vote (a poll tax)
- 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 United States?
- 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 United States
* 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 United States
•obey the laws of the United States
•serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
•serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 (eighteen) year and older
What are TWO ways to 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 15th
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
- at 18 (eighteen)
* between 18 (eighteen) and 26 (twenty-six)
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 and quartering)
- because they didn’t have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4th, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name THREE
- New Hamshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
HINT: All the states are on the east coast
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 U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers.
- James Madison
- Alexander Hamilton
- John Jay
- Publius
What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
- U.S. diplomat
- oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
- first Postmaster General of the United States
- 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 United States buy from France in 1803?
- Louisiana
- the Louisiana Territory
NOTE: Known as the Louisiana Purchase
Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1800s
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South?
- the Civil War
* the War between States
Name ONE problem that led to the Civil War
- states rights
- economic reasons
- slavery
What was ONE important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
- freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
- saved the union
- led the United States during the Civil War
When did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- freed the slaves
- freed slaves in the Confederacy
- freed slaves in the Confederate States
- freed slaves in most Southern States
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
- fought for woman’s rights
* fought for civil rights
Name ONE war fought by the Inited States in the 1900s
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany and Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the Unites States?
Communism
What movement tried 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 happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States (World Trade Towers and Pentagon)
Name ONE American Indian tribe in the United States
- Cherokee
- Navajo
- Sioux
- Chippewa
- Choctaw
- Pueblo
- Apache
- Iroquois
- Creek
- Blackfeet
- Seminole
- Cheyenne
- Arawak
- Shawnee
- Mohegan
- Huron
- Oneida
- Lakota
- Chow
- Teton
- Hopi
- Intuit
Name ONE of the two longest rivers in the United States
- Missouri River
* Mississippi River
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific Ocean
What Ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Atlantic Ocean
Name ONE U.S. territory
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
Name ONE state the borders Canada
- Maine
- New Hamshire
- 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 United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
- New York (Harbor)
* Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 strips?
- because there were 13 original colonies
* because the strips represent the original colonies
Why does the flag have 50stars?
- because there is one star for each state
- because each star represents 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 4th
Name TWO national U.S. Holidays
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr Day
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Columbus Day
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
