key terms all general questions

What is the form of government of the United States?

Republic, Constitution-based federal republic, Representative democracy

What is the supreme law of the land?

(U.S.) Constitution

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

Forms the government, Defines powers of government, Defines the parts of government, Protects the rights of the people

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

Self-government, Popular sovereignty, Consent of the governed, People should govern themselves, (Example of) social contract

How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

Amendments, The amendment process

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

(The basic) rights of Americans, (The basic) rights of people living in the United States

How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

27

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

It says America is free from British control. It says all people are created equal. It identifies inherent rights. It identifies individual freedoms.

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

Declaration of Independence

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Equality,

The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?

Declaration of Independence

What is the economic system of the United States?

Capitalism, Free market economy

What is the rule of law?

Everyone must follow the law, Leaders must obey the law, Government must obey the law, No one is above the law

Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

Articles of Confederation: showed the weaknesses of a very limited national government and pushed leaders toward a stronger federal structure in the Constitution.

There are three branches of government. Why?

So one part does not become too powerful, Checks and balances

Name the three branches of government.

Legislative, executive, and judicial; Congress, president, and the courts

The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

Executive branch: carries out and enforces federal laws

What part of the federal government writes laws?

(U.S.) Congress, (U.S. or national) legislature, Legislative branch

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

Senate and House (of Representatives)

Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

it writes laws, meaning it debates, drafts, and passes legislation that can shape national policy.

How many U.S. senators are there?

100

How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

6

Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?

Elizabeth Warren

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

435

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

Two years

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

To more closely follow public opinion

How many senators does each state have?

Two

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation (for small states), The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Name your U.S. representative

Ayanna Presley

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

Mike Johnson

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

Citizens of their state, People of their state

Who elects U.S. senators?

Citizens from their state

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

Citizens in their (congressional) district, People from their (congressional) district

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

Citizens from their (congressional) district

Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

Because some states have more people

The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

Four years

The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

(Because of) the 22nd Amendment, To keep the president from becoming too powerful

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?

J.D. Vance

If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

The Vice President (of the United States)

Name one power of the president.

Signs bills into law: which is how legislation passed by Congress officially becomes federal law.

Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

The President (of the United States)

Who signs bills to become laws?

The President (of the United States)

Who vetoes bills?

The President (of the United States)

Who appoints federal judges?

The President (of the United States)

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

President of the United States: leads the branch and sets priorities for how laws are carried out.

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Advises the President (of the United States)

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Cabinet-level positions include department secretaries and certain other top officials (e.g., the Vice President and some agency/office leaders named in the list).

Why is the Electoral College important?

It decides who is elected president. It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.

What is one part of the judicial branch?

Supreme Court, Federal Courts

What does the judicial branch do?

Reviews/ Explains law: interpreting what they mean and how they should be applied

What is the highest court in the United States?

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

Nine (9)

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

Five (5)

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

(For) life, (Until) retirement

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

To be independent (of politics). To limit outside (political) influence

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John G. Roberts, Jr.

Name one power that is only for the federal government.

make treaties, and the federal government also has exclusive powers such as setting foreign policy, declaring war, and creating an army.

Name one power that is only for the states.

Provide schooling and education

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

It states that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

Who is the governor of your state now?

Maura Healey

What is the capital of your state?

Boston

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

Twenty-Sixth Amendment: citizens who are eighteen (18) and older can vote.

Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?

Citizens of the United States

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

Freedom of expression, religion & speech

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

The United States, The flag

Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.

Give up loyalty to other countries, Defend the (U.S.) Constitution

How can people become United States citizens?

Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment, Naturalize, Derive citizenship (under conditions set by Congress)

What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

Vote, Give an elected official your opinion / contact elected officials

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

vote, because voting helps choose leaders and shape public policy.

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Required by law, All people pay to fund the federal government, Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment), Civic duty

It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.

Required by law

The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.

Freedom

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

American Indians, Native Americans

What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

People from Africa

What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

American Revolution

Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

taxation without representation: colonists were expected to pay British taxes, such as those linked to the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts,

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

(Thomas) Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.

Battle of Yorktown, where the British surrender effectively ended major fighting and secured American independence.

There were 13 original states. Name five.

Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Georgia.

What founding document was written in 1787?

(U.S.) Constitution

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

(James) Madison

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution. They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

U.S. diplomat, helping secure crucial international support for the American cause

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

First president of the United States

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Writer of the Declaration of Independence

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

“Father of the Constitution”

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

first Secretary of the Treasury, he helped shape the new nation’s financial system.

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana Territory

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

Civil War (1861–1865), fought between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South) and closely tied to the future of slavery and the power of the federal government.

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

The Civil War

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

Emancipation Proclamation: declared that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free and made ending slavery a central goal of the war.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

Led the United States during the Civil War as 16th president of the United States

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed the slaves in the Confederacy / Confederate states and in most Southern states

What U.S. war ended slavery?

The Civil War

What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?

14th Amendment

When did all men get the right to vote?

After the Civil War, During Reconstruction, (With the) 15th Amendment, 1870

Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.

Susan B. Anthony: key organiser and campaigner for women’s suffrage.

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

World War II (1941–1945 for U.S. involvement), a global conflict in which the U.S. fought mainly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and became a central Allied power.