Preparing for the Naturalization Test

what is the supreme law of the land?

the Constituion

what does the Constitution do?

1. sets up the government

2. defines the government

3. protects basic rights of Americans

the idea of self-government is the first three words of the Constitution. what are these words?

We the People

what is an amendment?

1. a change (to the Constitution)

2. an addition (to the Constitution)

what is one right/freedom from the First Amendment?

1. speech

2. religion

3. assembly

4. press

5. petition the government

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

the Bill of Rights

how many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

what did the Declaration of Independence do?

1. announced / declared our independence (from Great Britain)

2. said that the U.S. is free (from Great Britain)

what are 2 rights in the Declaration of Independence?

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

what’s freedom of religion?

The right to practice any religion or none at all without government interference.

what’s the economic system in the U.S.?

capitalist / market economy

what is the “rule of law?”

1. everyone must follow the law.

2. leaders must obey the law.

3. gov’t must obey the law.

4. no one is above the law.

name 1 branch / part of the gov’t

1. legislative

2. Congress

3. executive

4. President

5. judicial

6. the courts

what stops 1 branch of gov’t from becoming too powerful?

1. checks & balances

2. separation of powers

who’s in charge of the executive branch?

the President

who makes federal laws?

1. Congress

2. Senate & House (of Representatives)

3. (U.S. / nat’l) legislature

what are the 2 parts of the U.S. Congress?

the Senate & House (of Representatives)

how many U.S. senators are there?

100

we elect a U.S. senator for how many years?

6

who is 1 of your state’s U.S. senators now?

Elissa Slotkin & Gary Peters

the House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435

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

2

Name your U.S. Representative

John James (R) & Hayley M. Stevens (D)

who does a U.S. Senator represent?

all people of the state

why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

(b/c) they have more people

(b/c of) the state’s population

(b/c) 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 of the U.S. now?

President Donald J. Trump (Donald John Trump)

what is the name of the Vice President of the U.S. now?

J.D. Vance (James David Vance)

if the President can no longer serve, who becomes the 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 2 Cabinet-level positions?

1. Secretary of Agriculture

2. Secretary of Commerce

3. Secretary of Defense

4. Secretary of Education

5. Secretary of Energy

6. Secretary of Health & Human Services

7. Secretary of Homeland Security

8. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

9. Secretary of the Interior

10. Secretary of Labor

11. Secretary of State

12. Secretary of Transportation

13. Secretary of the Treasury

14. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

15. Attorney General

16. Vice President

what does the judicial branch do?

1. reviews laws

2. explains laws

3. resolves disputes (disagreements)

4. decides if a law goes against the Constitution

what’s the highest court in the U.S.?

SCOTUS

how many justices are on the SCOTUS?

9

who’s the Chief Justice of the U.S.?

the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.

under our Constitution, some powers belong to the fed gov’t. What’s 1 power of the fed gov’t?

1. to print money

2. to declare war

3. to create an army

4. to make treaties

under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What’s 1 power of the states?

1. provide schooling & edu

2. provide protection (police)

3. provide safety (fire dept’s)

4. give a driver’s license

5. approve zoning & land use

who’s the Governor of your state rn?

Gretchen Whitmer

what’s the capital of your state?

Lansing

what are the 2 major political parties in the U.S.?

R & D

what’s the political party of the President rn?

Republican

what’s the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Rep. Mike Johnson