Test 2018 Flashcards by Sven Muendler

What is the supreme law of the land?

▪ the Constitution

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What does the Constitution do?

setup the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans

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The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

▪ We the People

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What is an amendment?

▪ An addition (to the Constitution)
A change (to the Constitution)

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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

▪ the Bill of Rights

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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

▪ freedom of speech

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How many amendments does the Constitution have?

▪ twenty-seven (27)

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What did the Declaration of Independence do?

▪ declared our independence (from Great Britain)
announce our independence (from Great Britain)
Said that the United States are free (from Great Britain)

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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

▪ life

▪ liberty

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What is freedom of religion?

▪ You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

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What is the economic system in the United States?*

▪ market economy

capitalist economy

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What is the “rule of law”?

▪ No one is above the law.
Everyone must follow the law
Leaders must follow the law
Government must obey the law

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Name one branch or part of the government.*

▪ Congress

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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

▪ checks and balances

separation of powers

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Who is in charge of the executive branch?

▪ the President

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Who makes federal laws?

▪ Congress
Senate and House
Legislature

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What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

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How many U.S. Senators are there?

▪ one hundred (100)

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We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

▪ six (6)

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Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?

Dianne Feinstein (Dem)

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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

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We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

▪ two (2)

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Name your U.S. Representative.

Ken Calvert (Rep)

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Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

▪ all people of the state

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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

▪ (because) some states have more people

We elect a President for how many years?

▪ four (4)

In what month do we vote for President?*

▪ November

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?

▪ 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 Chief 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 Defense | ▪ Secretary of State

What does the judicial branch do?

▪ resolves disputes (disagreements) reviews laws explains laws decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What is the highest court in the United States?

▪ the Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

nine (9)

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

▪ to declare war

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

provide schooling and education

Who is the Governor of your state now?

Gavin Newsom

What is the capital of your state?

Sacramento

What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

▪ Democratic and Republican

What is the political party of the President now?

Democrats

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Nancy Pelosi

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

▪ Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

▪ vote in a federal election

Name one right only for United States citizens.

▪ vote in a federal election

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

▪ freedom of speech | ▪ freedom of religion

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?

▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

▪ eighteen (18) and older

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪ vote | ▪ run for office

When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*

▪ April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

▪ between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ religious freedom

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

▪ Native Americans | American Indians

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 because they didn't have self-government

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

▪ (Thomas) Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

▪ July 4, 1776

There were 13 original states. Name three.

▪ Maryland ▪ Virginia ▪ North Carolina

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

▪ The Constitution was written.

When was the Constitution written?

▪ 1787

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

▪ (James) Madison

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

▪ U.S. diplomat

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

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

▪ Mexican-American War

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

▪ the Civil War

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

▪ freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

What 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 women’s rights | fought for civil rights

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

▪ World War II

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 United States?

▪ Communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

▪ civil rights movement

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

▪ fought for civil rights

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

▪ Terrorists attacked the United States.

Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

▪ Cherokee

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States?

▪ 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

Name one state that borders Canada.

Washington State

Name one state that borders Mexico.

▪ California

What is the capital of the United States?*

▪ Washington, D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

▪ Liberty Island

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

▪ because there were 13 original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

▪ because there is one star for each state

What is the name of the national anthem?

▪ The Star-Spangled Banner

When do we celebrate Independence Day?*

▪ July 4

Name two national U.S. holidays.

▪ Independence Day | ▪ Thanksgiving