US Citizenship Test Flashcards

1
Q

What is the supreme law of the land?

A

The Constitution

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2
Q

What does the Constitution do?

A

▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans

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3
Q

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

A

We the People

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4
Q

What is an amendment?

A

▪ a change (to the Constitution)

▪ an addition (to the Constitution)

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5
Q

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

A

▪ The Bill of Rights

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6
Q

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

A
▪ Speech
▪ Religion
▪ Assembly
▪ Press
▪ Petition the government
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7
Q

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

A

27 Amendments

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8
Q

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

A

▪ Announced our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ Said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

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9
Q

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

A

▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness

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10
Q

What is freedom of religion?

A

You can practice any religion, or not

practice a religion.

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11
Q

What is the economic system in the United States?*

A

▪ capitalist economy

▪ market economy

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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.

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13
Q

Name one branch or part of the government.*

A
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial
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14
Q

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

A

▪ checks and balances

▪ separation of powers

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15
Q

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

A

The President

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16
Q

Who makes federal laws?

A

▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature

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17
Q

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

A

the Senate and House (of Representatives)

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18
Q

How many U.S. Senators are there?

A

100 Senators

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19
Q

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

A

6 Years

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20
Q

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

A

Duckworth, Tammy Illinois Democratic III

Durbin, Richard J. Illinois Democratic II

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21
Q

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

A

435 Representative

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22
Q

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

A

2 Years

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23
Q

Name your U.S. Representative.

A

Bobby Rush
1st District
Democrat
Since Jan 5, 1993

Robin Kelly
2nd District
Democrat
Since Apr 9, 2013

Marie Newman
3rd District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2021

Jesús “Chuy” García
4th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019

Mike Quigley
5th District
Democrat
Since Apr 7, 2009

Sean Casten
6th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019

Danny Davis
7th District
Democrat
Since Jan 7, 1997

Raja Krishnamoorthi
8th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2017

Janice “Jan” Schakowsky
9th District
Democrat
Since Jan 6, 1999

Bradley “Brad” Schneider
10th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2017

Bill Foster
11th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2013

Mike Bost
12th District
Republican
Since Jan 6, 2015

Rodney Davis
13th District
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2013

Lauren Underwood
14th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2019

Mary Miller
15th District
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2021

Adam Kinzinger
16th District
Republican
Since Jan 3, 2013

Cheri Bustos
17th District
Democrat
Since Jan 3, 2013

Darin LaHood
18th District
Republican
Since Sep 17, 2015

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24
Q

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

A

All people of the state.

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25
Q

Why do some states have more

Representatives than other states?

A

▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people

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26
Q

We elect a President for how many years?

A

4 years

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27
Q

In what month do we vote for President?*

A

November

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28
Q

What is the name of the President of the

United States now?

A

Joe Biden

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29
Q

What is the name of the Vice President of

the United States now?

A

Kamala Harris

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30
Q

If the President can no longer serve, who

becomes President?

A

The VP

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31
Q

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve,
who becomes President?

A

The Speaker of the house

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32
Q

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

A

The President

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33
Q

Who signs bills to become laws?

A

The President

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34
Q

Who vetoes bills?

A

The President

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35
Q

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

A

Advises the President.

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36
Q

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

A
▪ 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 the Interior
▪ Secretary of Labor
▪ Secretary of State
▪ Secretary of Transportation
▪ Secretary of the Treasury
▪ Secretary of Veterans Affairs
▪ Attorney General
▪ Vice President
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37
Q

What does the judicial branch do?

A

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

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38
Q

What is the highest court in the United

States?

A

The Supreme Court

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39
Q

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

A
9 Justices
1- ClarenceThomas
2- StephenBreyer
3- JohnRoberts (Chief Justice)
4- Samuel Alito
5- Sonia Sotomayor
6- Elena Kagan
7- Neil Gorsuch
8- Brett Kavanaugh
9- Amy Coney Barrett
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40
Q

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

A

John G. Roberts,

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41
Q

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

A

▪ to print money
▪ to declare war
▪ to create an army
▪ to make treaties

42
Q

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states.

What is one power of the states?

A
▪ provide schooling and education
▪ provide protection (police)
▪ provide safety (fire departments)
▪ give a driver’s license
▪ approve zoning and land use
43
Q

Who is the Governor of your state now?

A

Governor JB Pritzker (Democrat) was sworn in as the 43rd Governor of Illinois on Jan. 14, 2019.

44
Q

What is the capital of your state?*

A

Springfield, Illinois

45
Q

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

A

Democrats and Republicans

46
Q

What is the political party of the President now?

A

Democrats

47
Q

What is the name of the Speaker of the

House of Representatives now?

A

Nancy Pelosi

48
Q

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

A

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

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

A

▪ serve on a jury

▪ vote in a federal election

50
Q

Name one right only for United States citizens.

A

▪ vote in a federal election

▪ run for federal office

51
Q

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

A
▪ freedom of expression
▪ freedom of speech
▪ freedom of assembly
▪ freedom to petition the government
▪ freedom of religion
▪ the right to bear arms
52
Q

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

A

▪ The United States

▪ The flag

53
Q

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

A

▪ 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

54
Q

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

A

18 Years

55
Q

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

A
▪ 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
56
Q

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

A

April 15

57
Q

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

A

▪ at age eighteen (18)

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

58
Q

What is one reason colonists came to America?

A
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution
59
Q

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

A

▪ American Indians

▪ Native Americans

60
Q

What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

A

▪ Africans

▪ people from Africa

61
Q

Why did the colonists fight the British?

A

▪ Because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
▪ Because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
▪ Because they didn’t have self-government

62
Q

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A

(Thomas) Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. president of the United States

63
Q

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

A

July 4, 1776

64
Q

There were 13 original states. Name three?.

A
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Massachusetts
▪ Rhode Island
▪ Connecticut
▪ New York
▪ New Jersey
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Delaware
▪ Maryland
▪ Virginia
▪ North Carolina
▪ South Carolina
▪ Georgia
65
Q

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

A

▪ The Constitution was written.

▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

66
Q

When was the Constitution written?

A

1787 The Constitution of the United States was written.

67
Q

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

A

▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius

68
Q

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

A

▪ 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

69
Q

Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

A

(George) Washington

70
Q

Who was the first President? *

A

(George) Washington

71
Q

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

A

▪ The Louisiana Territory

▪ Louisiana

72
Q

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

A

▪ War of 1812
▪ Mexican American War
▪ Civil War
▪ Spanish-American War

73
Q

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

A

▪ The Civil War

▪ The War between the States

74
Q

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

A

▪ slavery
▪ economic reasons
▪ states’ rights

75
Q

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? *

A

▪ freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
▪ saved (or preserved) the Union
▪ led the United States during the Civil War

76
Q

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

A

▪ freed the slaves
▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy
▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states
▪ freed slaves in most Southern states

77
Q

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

A

▪ fought for women’s rights

▪ fought for civil rights

78
Q

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

A
▪ World War I
▪ World War II
▪ Korean War
▪ Vietnam War
▪ (Persian) Gulf War
79
Q

Who was President during World War I?

A

(Woodrow) Wilson

80
Q

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

A

(Franklin) Roosevelt

81
Q

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

A

Japan, Germany, and Italy

82
Q

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

A

World War II

83
Q

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

A

Communism

84
Q

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

A

civil rights (movement)

85
Q

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? *

A

▪ fought for civil rights

▪ worked for equality for all Americans

86
Q

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

A

▪ Terrorists attacked the United States.

87
Q

Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

A
▪ Cherokee
▪ Navajo
▪ Sioux
▪ Chippewa
▪ Choctaw
▪ Pueblo
▪ Apache
▪ Iroquois
▪ Creek
▪ Blackfeet
▪ Seminole
▪ Cheyenne
88
Q

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

A

▪ Missouri (River)

▪ Mississippi (River)

89
Q

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

A

Pacific (Ocean)

90
Q

What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

A

Atlantic (Ocean)

91
Q

Name one U.S. territory.

A
▪ Puerto Rico
▪ U.S. Virgin Islands
▪ American Samoa
▪ Northern Mariana Islands
▪ Guam
92
Q

Name one state that borders Canada.

A
▪ Maine
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Vermont
▪ New York
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Ohio
▪ Michigan
▪ Minnesota
▪ North Dakota
▪ Montana
▪ Idaho
▪ Washington
▪ Alaska
93
Q

Name one state that borders Mexico.

A

▪ California
▪ Arizona
▪ New Mexico
▪ Texas

94
Q

What is the capital of the United States? *

A

Washington, D.C.

95
Q

Where is the Statue of Liberty? *

A

▪ New York (Harbor)
▪ Liberty Island

[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New
York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

96
Q

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

A

▪ because there were 13 original colonies

▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies

97
Q

Why does the flag have 50 stars? *

A

▪ because there is one star for each state
▪ because each star represents a state
▪ because there are 50 states

98
Q

What is the name of the national anthem?

A

The Star-Spangled Banner

99
Q

When do we celebrate Independence Day? *

A

July 4th

100
Q

Name two national U.S. holidays.

A
▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas