2020 Civics Test – Flash Cards
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All Questions: 128
Questions:
Questions: 
1. What is the form of government of the United States?
Republic
2. What is the supreme law of the land?
(U.S.) Constitution
3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Forms the government
4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People". What does "We the People" mean?
Self-government
5. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
6. What does the Bill of Rights protect?
(The basic) rights of Americans
7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says America is free from British control
9. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
10. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality and liberty
11. The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
Declaration of Independence
12. What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism
13. What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law
14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Declaration of Independence
15. There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful
16. Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial
17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
18. What part of the federal government writes laws?
(U.S.) Congress
19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House (of Representatives)
20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws
21. How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100)
22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years
23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
Please visit our Government Page to find out who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now.
24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years
26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion
27. How many senators does each state have?
Two (2)
28. Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation (for small states)
29. Name your U.S. representative.
Visit our Government Page to find out the name of your U.S. representative.
30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?*
Visit our Government Page to find out the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state
32. Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their (congressional) district
34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their (congressional) district
35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
(Because of) the state’s population
36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
Four (4) years
37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
(Because of) the 22nd Amendment
38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
Please visit our Government Page to find out the name of the President of the United States now.
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?*
Visit our Government Page to find out the name of the Vice President of the United States.
40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
the Vice President (of the United States)
41. Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law
42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President (of the United States)
43. Who signs bills to become laws?
The President (of the United States)
44. Who vetoes bills?
The President (of the United States)
45. Who appoints federal judges?
The President (of the United States)
46. The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
The President (of the United States)
47. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President (of the United States)
48. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General and Secretary of Agriculture
49. Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president
50. What is one part of the judicial branch?
The Supreme Court
51. What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws
52. What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5)
55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
(For) life
56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent (of politics)
57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit our Government Page to find out the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.
58. Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money
59. Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education
60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
61. Who is the governor of your state now?*
Visit our Government Page to find out who is the governor of your state.
62. What is the capital of your state?
Visit our Government Page to find out what is the capital of your state.
63. There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote)
64. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens
65. What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly
66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States
67. Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries and defend the (U.S.) Constitution
68. How can people become United States citizens?
Naturalize
69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote and run for office
70. What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Vote
71. Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
72. It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law
73. The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Freedom
74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians
75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans
76. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
High taxes
78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
80. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Bunker Hill
81. There were 13 original states. Name five.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York
82. What founding document was written in 1787?
(U.S.) Constitution
83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
84. Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution
85. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Founded the first free public libraries
86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
“Father of Our Country”
87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
88. James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
Fourth president of the United States
89. Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana Territory
91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Fort Sumter
94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
96. What U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War
97. What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?
14th Amendment
98. When did all men get the right to vote?
After the Civil War
99. Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
100. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I
101. Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
102. When did all women get the right to vote?
1920
103. What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
104. When did the Great Depression start?
The Great Crash (1929)
105. Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
106. Why did the United States enter World War II?
(Bombing of) Pearl Harbor
107. Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
108. Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
109. During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism
110. Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
111. Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism
112. What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
Fought for civil rights
114. Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
116. Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
(Global) War on Terror
117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Apache
118. Name one example of an American innovation.
Light bulb
119. What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
120. Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York (Harbor)
121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
(Because there were) 13 original colonies
122. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
(Because there is) one star for each state
123. What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
124. The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Out of many, one
125. What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
126. Name three national U.S. holidays.
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
127. What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
128. What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)
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