Civics Test

What document is the “supreme law of the land”?

The Constitution

Name ONE primary purpose of the Constitution?

Protect rights

The idea of self-government is presented in the first 3 words of the Constitution. What are these 3 words?

We the people

What is an amendment?

Change to the constitution (or addition)

What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights

What is ONE right or freedom from the First Amendment

Freedom of Speech

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Declared independence from Britain

What are 2 rights specifically listed in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Define freedom of religion

Choice to practice/believe in any religion.

Name 1 reason why colonists came to America

Religious freedom/Economic opportunities

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Natives

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

Africans

Why did the colonists fight the British?

High Taxes

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When (date, year) was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

There were 13 original states. Name 3.

New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

Wrote the Constitution.

When (year) was the Constitution written?

1787

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

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

He’s a founding father.

Who was the first president?

George Washington

What is one power given to the federal government by the Constitution.

Printing money, starting war, drafting armies.

What is one power given to the state governments by the Constitution?

Drivers/Marriage Licenses, Police/Fire Dept, Education Systems

What branch of government makes laws?

Legislative

What are the 2 parts of the US Congress

Senate, House of Representatives

How many US Senators are there?

100

How long is the term of a US Senator?

6 years

Name ONE of Wisconsin’s Senators

Ron Johnson

How many representatives does the US House of Representatives have?

435

How long is the term of a representative?

2 years.

Name the Milwaukee area’s representative?

Gwen Moore

Who does a US Senator represent?

The State

Explain why some states have more representatives than other states?

The population being higher.

How many Amendments in total does the Constitution have?

27

What are the two major political parties in the US today?

Democrat + Republican

What is the political party of the President now?

Democrat

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Mike Johnson

What is the name of the Vice President now?

Kamala Harris

Who is the leader of the executive brach?

President

How long is a presidential term?

4 years

In what month do we vote for President?

November

Name the current President of the US

Joe Biden

Name the current Vice President of the US

Kamala Harris

Who becomes President if the President can no longer serve? (Death, Illness, etc.)

Vice President

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

President

Who signs bills to become laws?

President

Who has the ability to veto bills?

President

What is the job of the President’s cabinet?

Advise the President

List TWO positions within the cabinet

Transportation, Education

What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana

Name 1 war fought by the US in the 1800’s

1812/Civil War

Name the war fought in the US between the North and the South

Civil

Name one problem that lead to the Civil War

Slavery

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

Ended Slavery

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed the Slaves

Name one war fought by the US in the 1900’s

WW2

Who was the president during World War I?

Wilson

Who was the president during the Great Depression and World War II?

FDR

Who did the US fight in World War II?

Germany, Italy, Japan

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war did he fight in?

WW2

What is the economic system of the United States?

Capitalism

What is the “rule of law”

No one is above the law

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Checks + Balances

If both President and VP can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Speaker of the House

What does the judicial branch do?

Interprets the law

What is the highest court in the US?

Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the Chief Justice of the US now?

John Roberts

Who is the Governor of Wisconsin?

Tony Evers

What is the capital of Wisconsin?

Madison

There are 4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. What is one of them?

19th

What is a responsibility that is only for US citizens?

Voting

What are rights only for US citizens?

Voting

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

Freedom of Speech

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

The Flag

What do you promise when you become a citizen of the US?

Obey US law

How old do citizens have to be to vote?

18

How can Americans participate in their democracy?

Voting

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

April 15th

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

18

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Fought for women’s rights

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US?

Communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Civil Rights Movement

What did Martin Luther King Jr do?

I Have a Dream Speech

What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the US?

Twin Tower attack

Name an American Indian Tribe in the US

Creek

Name 1 of the 2 longest rivers in the US

Mississippi River

What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?

Pacific

What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?

Atlantic

Name a US Territory

Puerto Rico

Name a state that borders Canada

Washington

Name a state that borders Mexico

Texas

What is the capital of the US?

Washington DC

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

New York

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

13 colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

50 states

What is the name of the National Anthem?

Star Spangled Banner

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

July 4

Name a national US holiday

Thanksgiving