civics exam

the constitution does all the following

-sets up the government

-defines the government

-protects basic rights

what is an amendment?

a change to the constitution

what are the rights or freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment?

speech, assembly, religion, press, petition

what did the declaration of independence do?

declares independence from britain

what are the 3 rights in the declaration of independence?

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

list the branches of the U.S. government

-legislative

-executive

-judicial

what stops one branch of the U.S. government from becoming too powerful

checks and balances

who oversees the executive branch

the president

who makes federal laws?

congress/legislative branch

what are the two parts of the U.S. congress

-senate

-house of representatives

a senator is elected for how many years?

six years

a representative is elected for how many years?

two years

why do some states have more representatives than others?

differences in population

in what month do we vote for the president?

november

what are the duties performed by the president?

-commander in chief

-signs bills to become laws

-vetoes bills

the judicial branch does all the following

-interprets laws

-reviews laws

-resolves disputes

-decides constitutionality

what is the highest court in the U.S.?

supreme court

under the constitution, what powers belong to the federal government?

-print money

-declare war

-create an army

-make treaties

under the constitution, what powers belong to the states?

-provide schooling

-police/fire protection

-issue licenses

-approve zoning/land use

what is the capital of tennessee?

nashville

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

republicans and democrats

when must all men register for the selective service?

18-26

who authored the declaration of independence?

thomas jefferson

when was the constitution written?

september 17, 1787

describe george washington

-"father" of our country

-first president

-commander of the continental army

what is the capital of the U.S.?

washington, d.c.

the supreme law of the land is known as the

constitution

the first ten amendments to the constitution are called the

bill of rights

the president of the U.S. is elected for how many years?

four years

if the president of the U.S. can not serve, who becomes president?

vice president

a citizen of the U.S. can vote for president in an election when he/she turns how old?

eighteen years old

the idea of self-government is in the first words of the constitution. what are these words?

"we the people"

how many U.S. senators are there?

100

if both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

speaker of the house

name the U.S. war between the north and the south

civil war

what did susan b. anthony do?

fought for women's rights

who was president during the great depression and world war I?

franklin d. roosevelt

the U.S. fought which countries in world war II?

germany, japan, italy

during the cold war, what was the main concern of the U.S.?

defeating 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 U.S.?

terrorist attack on U.S. soil

name american indian tribes in the U.S.?

cherokee, choctaw, seminole, sioux

name the longest river in the U.S.?

mississippi river

what ocean is on the east coast of the U.S.?

atlantic ocean

what ocean is on the west coast of the U.S.?

pacific ocean

list the U.S. states that border mexico

california, arizona, new mexico, texas

where is the statue of liberty?

new york harbor

what is the name of the national anthem?

star-spangled banner

when do we celebrate independence day?

july 4th

where was the constitution written?

philadelphia

when was the declaration of independence adopted?

july 4th, 1776