Old Civics Test - Flash Cards
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
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 addition or change
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Freedom of speech
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?
Life and liberty
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion
What is the economic system in the United States?
Capitalist
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone must follow the law
Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
The Senate and House of Representatives
How many U.S. Senators are there?
One hundred (100)
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Six (6)
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
Two (2)
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Because they 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?
Donald Trump
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Mike Pence
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 Commerce and Secretary of Defense
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws
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 create an army
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Republican Party
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.
Any citizen 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.
Run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of expression and freedom of speech
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Obey the 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 and join a political party
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?
Freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
Why did the colonists fight the British?
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.
New York, New Jersey and Virginia
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.
John Jay
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
He was a 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.
Civil 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
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
She fought for women’s rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I
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.
Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
New York
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because there were 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because there are 50 states
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.
Presidents’ Day and Thanksgiving
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