Florida Civic Literacy Test Questions

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

▪ two (2)

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

▪Serve on a jury

▪ vote in a federal election

What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ freedom

▪ political liberty

▪ religious freedom

▪ economic opportunity

▪ practice their religion

▪ escape persecution

Gibbons v. Ogden

▪Regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government

Marbury v. Madison

▪This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

New Jersey v. TLO

▪students may be searched without a warrant if there is "reasonable ground" for doing so.

▪argued her 4th amendment rights

▪Case topic: Student search and seizure

Texas v. Johnson

▪A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

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

▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

How many U.S. Senators are there?

▪ 100

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

▪ six (6)

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

▪ Rick Scott

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

▪435

Name your U.S. Representative.

▪Cory Mills

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

▪ all people of the state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

▪(because of) the states population

▪(because) they have more people

▪(because) some states 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 J Trump

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

▪ James David "JD" Vance

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 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

What does the judicial branch do?

▪ reviews laws

▪ explains laws

▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)

▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution

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 (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

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

▪To print money

▪To declare war

▪To create an army

▪To make treaties

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

▪Providing schooling and education

▪Provide protection (police)

▪Provide safety (fire departments)

▪Give a driver's license

▪Approve zoning and land use

Who is the Governor of your state now?

▪Ron DeSantis

What is the capital of your state?*

▪Tallahassee

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?

▪ Mike Johnson

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

▪Citizen 18 and older

▪ 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)

Name one right only for United States citizens.

▪ vote in a federal election

▪ run for federal office

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

▪Freedom of expression

▪Freedom of speech

▪Freedom of assembly

▪Freedom to petition the government

▪Freedom of religion

▪ The right to bear arms

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 United States citizen?

▪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

▪ be loyal to the United States

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

▪18 and older

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

▪vote

▪join a political party

▪help with a campaign

▪join a community group

▪join a civic group

▪run for office

▪write to a newspaper

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

▪April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

▪at age 18

▪btw 18 and 26

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

▪ American Indians

▪ Native Americans

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

▪Africans

▪people from Africa

Why did the colonists fight the British?

▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation)

▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)

▪ 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 Hampshire

▪ Massachusetts

▪ Rhode Island

▪ Connecticut

▪ New York

▪ New Jersey

▪ Pennsylvania

▪ Delaware

▪ Maryland

▪ Virginia

▪ North Carolina

▪ South Carolina

▪ Georgia

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

▪ The Constitution was written.

▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

When was the Constitution written?

▪ 1787

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

▪ James Madison

▪ Alexander Hamilton

▪ John Jay

▪ Publius

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

▪ 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

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

▪The Louisiana Territory

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

▪Civil war

▪War of 1812

▪Mexican-American war

▪Spanish-American war

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

▪ the Civil War

▪ the War between the States

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery

▪ economic reasons

▪ states' rights

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

▪Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

▪saved (or preserved) the union

▪led the United States during Civil war

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

▪ freed the slaves

▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy

▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states

▪ freed slaves in most Southern states

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

▪ fought for women's rights

▪ fought for civil rights

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

▪World War 1

▪World War 2

▪Korean war

▪Vietnam war

▪(Persian) Gulf war

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 2

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

▪ worked for equality for all Americans

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

▪Seminole

▪Crow

▪Navajo

▪Sioux

▪Chippewa

▪Choctaw

▪Pueblo

▪Apache

▪Iroquois

▪Creek

▪Blackfeet

▪Cheyenne

▪Arawak

▪Shawnee

▪Mohegan

▪Huron

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

▪Missouri (river)

▪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.

▪ Puerto Rico

▪ U.S. Virgin Islands

▪ American Samoa

▪ Northern Mariana Islands

▪ Guam

Name one state that borders Canada.

▪ Maine

▪ New Hampshire

▪ Vermont

▪ New York

▪ Pennsylvania

▪ Ohio

▪ Michigan

▪ Minnesota

▪ North Dakota

▪ Montana

▪ Idaho

▪ Washington

▪ Alaska

Name one state that borders Mexico.

▪ California

▪ Arizona

▪ New Mexico

▪ Texas

What is the capital of the United States?

▪ Washington, D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

▪ New York (Harbor)

▪ Liberty Island

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

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

▪ because there were 13 original colonies

▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

▪ because there is one star for each state

▪ because each star represents a state

▪ 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.

▪ New Year's Day

▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

▪ Presidents' Day

▪ Memorial Day

▪ Independence Day

▪ Labor Day

▪ Columbus Day

▪ Veterans Day

▪ Thanksgiving

▪ Christmas

Brown v. Board of Education

▪1954 case that overturned Separate but Equal standard of discrimination in education.

▪Her family believed that the segregated school system violated the 14th Amendment and took their case to court.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

▪The case that ruled that slaves were property and could not sue

▪Violated the 5th amendment

▪helped bring on the civil war

Gideon v. Wainwright

▪a landmark case in United States Supreme Court history. In the case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants unable to afford their own attorneys.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

▪School newspapers can be censored by teachers and administrators

▪The journalism students felt that this censorship was a direct violation of their First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court decided that Principal Reynolds had the right to such editorial decisions, as he had "legitimate pedagogical concerns."

Korematsu v. US

▪1944 Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court upheld the order providing for the relocation of Japanese Americans. It was not until 1988 that Congress formally apologized and agreed to pay $20,000 2 each survivor

▪Korematsu argued that Executive Order 9066 was unconstitutional and that it violated the Fifth Amendment. The Fifth Amendmentwas selected over the Fourteenth Amendment due to the lack of federal protections in the Fourteenth Amendment. He was arrested and convicted.

Mapp v. Ohio

▪Established the exclusionary rule was applicable to the states (evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court)

▪Violation of the 4th amendment

McCulloch v. Maryland

▪Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law

▪

Miranda v. Arizona

as▪Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.

▪Violated the 5th amendment and his 6th, right to an attorney

▪Case topic: self-incrimination, due process

Plessy v. Ferguson

▪"separate but equal" doctrine supreme court upheld the constitutionally of jim crow laws

▪argued in court that the Act violated the 13th and 14th Amendments

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

▪A 1978 Supreme Court decision holding that a state university could not admit less qualified individuals solely because of their race.

▪Violated the 14th amendment

Roe v. Wade

▪(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

▪violated the guarantee of personal liberty and the right to privacy implicitly guaranteed in the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and 14th Amendments

Tinker v. Des Moines

▪Students have the right to symbolic speech at school as long as it is not disruptive, protected but he 1st amendment