US Citizenship Test Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
The Constitution sets up the government, defines the government, and protects 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?
An amendment is a change or an addition to the Constitution
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom (listed in) the First Amendment?
Freedom of Speech, Religion, Assembly, Press, and to Petition the Government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion
What is the economic system in the United States?
A Capitalist system
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone, including leaders, must follow and 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?
Separation of powers, a system of checks and balances
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
The House of Representatives, The Senate
How many US Senators are there?
100
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
6 years
Who is one of your state’s US Senators now?
Mark Kelly, Krysten Sinema
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a Representative for how many years?
2
Name your US Representative
Andy Biggs
Who does a US Senator represent?
All the people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Based on population, some states have more people
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 now?
Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President now?
Kamala Harris
Who becomes President if the President can no longer serve?
The Vice President
If both the President and Vice President cannot server, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
Who is the Commander in Chief?
The President
Who signs bills into law?
The President
Who vetoes bills?
The President
What does the Cabinet do?
Advise the President
What are 2 Cabinet-level positions?
Secretaries of: Agriculture Commerce Defense Education Energy Health and Human Services Homeland Security Housing and Urban Development Interior Labor State Transportation Treasury Veterans Affairs Attorney General Vice President
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews law, explains laws, resolves disputes, determines if a law is unconstitutional
What is the highest court in the US?
The Supreme Court
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
John Roberts
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the Federal Government. Name one.
To declare war, to print money, to make treaties, to create an army
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the States. Name one.
Provide schooling and education, provide police protection, provide safety (fire dept), issue drivers licenses, approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of Arizona?
Doug Deucy
What is the capital of Arizona?
Phoenix
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Nancy Pelosi
There are 4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Name/Describe one.
15th - A male citizen of any race can vote
19th - Any citizen can vote
24th - Prevents a poll tax
26th - Allows 18yr olds to vote
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury or vote in a federal election
Name on right of a US Citizen
Can vote in a federal election
Can run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the US?
Freedom of: Expression (1st) Speech (1st) Assembly (1st) To petition the government (1st) Religion (1st) The right to bear arms (2nd)
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 US Citizen?
Give up loyalty to other countries Defend the Constitution and Laws of the US Obey the laws of the US Serve in the US Military if asked Be loyal to the United States
What is the voting age?
18
What are 2 ways an American can participate in their democracy?
Vote, join a political party, help with a campaign, join a civic group, join a community group, run for office
When is the last day to file federal income tax?
April 15th
When must all men register for Selective Service?
Age 18
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans/American Indians
What group of people were taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Taxation without representation, no self government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4th, 1776
Name 3 of the original states
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
When was the Constitution written?
1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton (also John Jay, Publius)
What is one thing Ben Franklin is famous for?
Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, First Postmaster General
Who is the Father of Our Country?
George Washington
Who was the first President?
George Washington
What territory did the USA buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory (Louisiana Purchase)
Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s
The War of 1812, The Mexian-American War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War
Name the US war between North and South
The Civil War
Name one problem that led to the Civil War
Slavery, States Rights, economic reasons
Name one important thing Abe Lincoln did
Freed the slaves, led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed slaves in the Confederacy
What did Susan B Anthony do?
Fought for women’s rights
Name one war fought by the USA in the 1900s
WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam
Who was President during WWI?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and WWII?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in WWII?
Germany, Japan, Italy
What war was Eisenhower a general?
WWII
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the USA?
Communism
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights movement
What did Martin Luther King Jr do?
Fought for civil rights
What major event happened on Sept 11th, 2001
Terrorist attacks on the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States:
Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Sioux
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
Mississippi and Missouri
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 US Territory:
Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam (and Northern Mariana Islands)
Name one state that borders Canada:
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington (also Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Alaska)
Name one state that borders Mexico:
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
The US Capital is:
Washington DC
Where is the Statue of Liberty
New York Harbor
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Represents the 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Represents the current number of States
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th
Name two national US Holidays:
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving
