FCLE 131 questions Flashcards
1
Q
What is the supreme law of the land
A
The constitution
2
Q
What does the constitution do?
A
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans
3
Q
The idea of self-government is in the first
three words of the Constitution. What are
these words?
A
We the people
4
Q
What is an amendment?
A
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
5
Q
What do we call the first ten amendments
to the Constitution?
A
The Bill of Rights
6
Q
What is one right or freedom from the
First Amendment?*
A
Speech
Religion
Assembly
Press
Petition the government
7
Q
How many amendments does the Con-
stitution have?
A
twenty-seven (27)
8
Q
What did the Declaration of Indepen-
dence do?
A
announced our independence (from
Great Britain)
declared our independence (from Great
Britain)
said that the United States is free (from
Great Britain)
9
Q
What are two rights in the Declaration of
Independence?
A
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
10
Q
What is freedom of religion?
A
You can practice any religion, or not
practice a religion.
11
Q
What is the economic system in the Unit-
ed States?*
A
capitalist economy
market economy
12
Q
What is the “rule of law”?
A
Everyone must follow the law
Leaders must obey the law
Government must obey the law
No one is above the law
13
Q
Name one branch or part of the govern-
ment.
A
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
14
Q
What stops one branch of government
from becoming too powerful?
A
checks and balances
separation of powers
15
Q
Who is in charge of the executive
branch?
A
the President
16
Q
Who makes federal laws?
A
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature
17
Q
What are the two parts of the U.S. Con-
gress?*
A
the Senate and House (of Representa-
tives)
18
Q
How many U.S. Senators are there?
A
100
19
Q
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many
years?
A
six (6)
20
Q
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators
now?*
A
Marco Rubio
Rick Scott
21
Q
The House of Representatives has how
many voting members?
A
435
22
Q
We elect a U.S. Representative for how
many years?
A
two (2)
23
Q
Name your U.S. Representative.
A
Bill Posey
24
Q
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A
all people of the state
25
Why do some states have more Repre-
sentatives than other states?
Representation in the House of Repre-
sentatives is based on the population of
the state with each state guaranteed at
least 1 representative.
26
We elect a President for how many
years?
four (4)
27
In what month do we vote for President?*
November
28
What is the name of the President of
theUnited States now?*
Joe Biden
29
What is the name of the Vice President
of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
30
If the President can no longer serve, who
becomes President?
The Vice President
31
If both the President and the Vice Presi-
dent 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 bills?
The President
35
What does the President's Cabinet do?
advises the President
36
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
37
What does the judicial branch do?
resolves disputes (disagreements)
38
What is the highest court in the United
States?
the Supreme Court
39
How many justices are on the Supreme
Court?
nine (9)
40
Who is the Chief Justice of the United
States now?
John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
41
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
42
Under our Constitution, some powers
belong to the states. What is one power
of the states?
Providing schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver's license
Approve zoning and land use
43
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Ron DeSantis
44
What is the capital of your state?*
Tallahassee
45
What are the two major political parties
in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
46
What is the political party of the Presi-
dent now?
Democratic Party
47
What is the name of the Speaker of the
House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi
48
There are four amendments to the Con-
stitution about who can vote. Describe
one of them.
Citizen 18 and older
You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
Any citizen can vote (women and men
can vote)
A male citizen of any race (can vote)
49
What is one responsibility that is only for
United States citizens?*
Serve on a jury
vote in a federal election
50
Name one right only for United States
citizens.
vote in a federal election
run for federal office
51
What are two rights of everyone living in
the United States?
Freedom of assembly
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom of religion
The right to bear arms
52
What do we show loyalty to when we say
the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States
The flag
53
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
be loyal to the United States
54
How old do citizens have to be to vote for
President?*
18 and older
55
What are two ways that Americans can
participate in their democracy?
vote
join a political party
help with a campaign
join a community group
join a civic group
run for office
write to a newspaper
56
When is the last day you can send in
federal income tax forms?*
April 15
57
When must all men register for the Se-
lective Service?
at age 18
btw 18 and 26
58
What is one reason colonists came to
America?
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
59
Who lived in America before the Euro-
peans arrived?
American Indians
Native Americans
60
What group of people was taken to
America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
61
Why did the colonists fight the British?
because of high taxes (taxation without
representation)
because the British army stayed in their
houses (boarding, quartering)
because they didn't have self-govern-
ment
62
Who wrote the Declaration of Indepen-
dence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
63
When was the Declaration of Indepen-
dence adopted?
July 4, 1776
64
There were 13 original states. Name
New Jersey
65
three.
Pennsylvania
66
What happened at the Constitutional
Convention?
The Constitution was written.
The Founding Fathers wrote the Consti-
tution.
67
When was the Constitution written?
1787
68
The Federalist Papers supported the
passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name
one of the writers.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Publius
69
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
70
Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
George Washington
71
Who was the first President?
(George) Washington
72
What territory did the United States buy
from France in 1803?
Louisiana
The Louisiana Territory
73
Name one war fought by the United
States in the 1800s.
Civil war
War of 1812
Mexican-American war
Spanish-American war
74
Name the U.S. war between the North
and the South.
the Civil War
the War between the States
75
Name one problem that led to the Civil
War.
slavery
economic reasons
states' rights
76
What was one important thing that Abra-
ham Lincoln did?*
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Procla-
mation)
saved (or preserved) the union
led the United States during Civil war
77
What did the Emancipation Proclama-
tion do?
freed the slaves
freed slaves in the Confederacy
freed slaves in the Confederate states
freed slaves in most Southern states
78
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women's rights
fought for civil rights
79
Name one war fought by the United
States in the 1900s.* *
World War 1
World War 2
Korean war
Vietnam war
(Persian) Gulf war
80
Who was President during World War I?
(Woodrow) Wilson
81
Who was President during the Great De-
pression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
82
Before he was President, Eisenhower
was a general. What war was he in?
World War 2
83
During the Cold War, what was the main
concern of the United States?
Communism
84
What movement tried to end racial dis-
crimination?
civil rights (movement)
85
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
fought for civil rights
worked for equality for all Americans
86
What major event happened on Septem-
ber 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
87
Name American Indian tribe in the
Pueblo
88
one
United States.
Apache
89
Name one of the two longest rivers in the
United States.
Missouri (river)
Mississippi (River)
90
What ocean is on the West Coast of the
United States?
Pacific (ocean)
91
What ocean is on the East Coast of the
United States?
Atlantic (ocean)
92
Name one U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
93
Name one state that borders Canada.
Michigan
94
Name state that borders Mexico.
Arizona
95
one state
New Mexico
96
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
97
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York (Harbor)
Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near
New York City, and on the Hudson (Riv-
er).]
98
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
because the stripes represent the origi-
nal colonies
99
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
because there is one star for each state
because each star represents a state
because there are 50 states
100
What is the name of the national an-
them?
The Star-Spangled Banner
101
When do we celebrate Independence
Day?
July 4
102
Name two national U.S. holidays.
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
103
Brown V. Board of Education
1954 case that overturned Separate but
Equal standard of discrimination in edu-
cation.
Her family believed that the segregated
school system violated the 14th Amend-
ment and took their case to court.
104
Dred Scott V. Sanford
The case that ruled that slaves were
property and could not sue
Violated the 5th amendment
helped bring on the civil war
105
Gibbons V. Ogden
Regulating interstate commerce is a
power reserved to the federal govern-
ment
106
Gideon V. Wainwright
a landmark case in United States
Supreme Court history. In the case, the
Supreme Court unanimously ruled that
state courts are required under the Sixth
Amendment of the Constitution to pro-
vide counsel in criminal cases for defen-
dants unable to afford their own attor-
neys.
107
Hazelwood V. Kuhlmeier
Amendment rights. The Supreme Court
decided that Principal Reynolds had the
right to such editorial decisions, as he
had "legitimate pedagogical concerns."
108
Korematsu V. US
1944 Supreme Court case where the
Supreme Court upheld the order provid-
ing for the relocation of Japanese Ameri-
cans. It was not until 1988 that Congress
formally apologized and agreed to pay
$20,000 2 each survivor
Korematsu argued that Executive Or-
der 9066 was unconstitutional and that
it violated the Fifth Amendment. The
Fifth Amendmentwas selected over the
Fourteenth Amendment due to the lack
of federal protections in the Fourteenth
Amendment. He was arrested and con-
victed.
109
Mapp V. Ohio
Established the exclusionary rule was
applicable to the states (evidence seized
illegally cannot be used in court)
Violation of the 4th amendment
110
Marbury V. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme
Court's power of Judicial Review
111
McCulloch V. Maryland
Maryland was trying to tax the nation-
al bank and Supreme Court ruled that
federal law was stronger than the state
law because of the Supremacy Clause.
Also ruled that under the Necessary and
Proper Clause or the Elastic Clause, the
federal government had the right to es-
tablish a national bank under the Com-
merce Clause.
112
Miranda V. Arizona
tioning by police.
Violated the 5th amendment and his 6th,
right to an attorney
Case topic: self-incrimination, due
process
113
New Jersey V. TLO
students may be searched without a war-
rant if there is "reasonable ground" for
doing SO.
argued her 4th amendment rights
Case topic: Student search and seizure
114
Plessy V. Ferguson
"separate but equal" doctrine supreme
court upheld the constitutionally of jim
crow laws
argued in court that the Act violated the
13th and 14th Amendments
115
Regents of the University of California V.
Bakke
A 1978 Supreme Court decision holding
that a state university could not admit
less qualified individuals solely because
of their race.
Violated the 14th amendment
116
Roe V. Wade
(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of
a woman's right to privacy
violated the guarantee of personal liberty
and the right to privacy implicitly guaran-
teed in the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and
14th Amendments
117
Texas V. Johnson
A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court
struck down a law banning the burning
of the American flag on the grounds that
such action was symbolic speech pro-
tected by the First Amendment.
118
Tinker V. Des Moines
Students have the right to symbolic
speech at school as long as it is not dis-
ruptive, protected but he st amendment
119
United States V. Nixon
U.S. Supreme Court case that limited ex-
ecutive privilege
120
Baker V. Carr
Supreme Court looks at justiciability and
tries to avoid deciding political questions
(conflicts between branches or levels of
government). Once it decided it could
hear the case, the Court ruled "one per-
son, one vote," meaning that congres-
sional districts must be approximately
the same size.
121
U.S. V. Lopez (1995)
Supreme Court declared Gun Free
School Zones Act exceeded Congress's
Interstate Commerce Clause power and
was therefore unconstitutional. First fed-
eral law declared to exceed commerce
clause since the 1930s (Devolution Rev-
olution?)
122
Bush V. Gore
5-4 Supreme Court declared that Flori-
da vote recount violated equal protection
clause (some votes would be examined
more closely than others); ended Gore's
challenge to 2000 election results. Pow-
er of judicial review (effectively decided
2000 election).
123
Schenck V. US
Can limit free speech when there is a
"clear and present danger"
124
West Virginia V. Barnette
Students cannot be forced to say the
Pledge of Allegiance, as doing SO would
violate free speech.
125
Citizens United V. FEC
A 2010 decision by the United States
Supreme Court holding that independent
expenditures are free speech protected
by the 1st Amendment and SO cannot be
limited by federal law. Leads to creation
of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount
of third party electioneering (Citizens for
a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)
126
Wisconsin V. Yoder
Amish do not have to attend school after
8th grade - right to freedom of religion
127
NY Times V. US
First Amendment/Freedom of the Press
- New York Times and Washington Post
could print the Pentagon Papers without
risk of government censorship or pun-
ishment. The government could not ex-
ercise "prior restraint" in preventing the
Pentagon Papers from being printed.
128
DC V. Heller
the 2nd Amendment protects the right
of individuals to possess a firearm for
personal use; specifically, there is a con-
stitutional right to keep a handgun in the
home for self defense and not solely as-
sociated with a militia.
129
McDonald V. Chicago
The right of an individual to "keep and
bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amend-
ment is incorporated by the due process
clause of the 14th Amendment and ap-
plies to the states.
130
In Re Gault
Landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision
that held that juveniles accused of crimes
in a delinquency proceeding must be af-
forded many of the same due process
rights as adults.
131
Griswold V. Connecticut
1965 decision that the Constitution im-
plicitily guarantees citizens' right to priva-
cy for use of contraception using the 1st,
3rd, 4th and 9th amendments.
132
Shaw V. Reno
NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot
be the sole or predominant factor in re-
drawing legislative boundaries; majori-
ty-minority districts.
