FCLE

What are the 13 original colonies?

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia

Colonists came to America for all of the following:

• religious freedom

• to escape persecution

• political freedom

• economic opportunity

Mayflower compact (1690) established what?

Self-government

Revolutionary war began when?

1775

Why did we fight the British?

• High taxes (taxation without representation)

• British army stayed in our houses (quartering)

• We wanted self government

What is quartering?

You must house British soldiers

Why did Thomas Paine write “Common Sense”

encourage colonies to fight for egalitarian government and break from British rule

July 4, 1776:

the colonies declared independence from Britain

Rights in Declaration of Indepdence:

• right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government plan but did not have a strong enough central government

Articles of confederation failed because (3)

it had a weak central government, most power belonged to states, colonists were afraid to give central (federal) government too much power

Supreme law of the land is

the U.S constitution

Supreme law of the land was written in ____ and ratified in ____

1787, 1789

Supreme law of the land establishes

a representative democracy

Which part of our government is the closest illustration to representative democracy?

House of representatives

What words in the constitution set up the concept of “self-government”

We the people

We the people=

self-governance

Federalism

balance of powers between the state and federal government’s rights

What is the rule of law?

No one is above the law, everyone must follow the law

Federalist papers tried to convince what?

the passing of the U.S constitution

First ten amendments in the constitution are called

Bill of Rights (1791)

Which of the following are required for an amendment to be ratified?

ratified by 3/4 of the states

First amendment

freedom of expression (speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the government)

What does the free exercise clause do?

the right to practice religion freely, or not practice any religion at all

Second amendment

Right to bear arms

Third amendment

Prohibits quartering soldiers (house them)

Fourth amendment

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, sets out requirements for search warrants

Fifth amendment

right to remain silent, prevents double jeopardy, right to due process, and requires fair payment if the government takes your property

What is due process?

The government must follow fair procedures and laws when taking away someone's life, liberty, or property, ensuring a fair and just legal process

What is double jeopardy?

If you are accused of a crime and are later acquitted, they cannot find new evidence and try you for the same crime twice

What is self-incrimination

You do not have to answer questions that expose yourself to criminal liability or prosecution (I plead the 5th)

Sixth amendment

The right to a fair trial by jury in criminal cases

Seventh amendment

The right to a fair trial by jury in civil cases

Eighth amendment

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail as well as cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth amendment

Protects right not enumerated in the constitution

Tenth amendment

Any powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people

Necessary and proper clause

lets Congress make laws when needed, even if not written in the Constitution

11th amendment

States can't be sued in federal court by someone from another state or country

12th amendment

revises presidential election procedures by having the president and vp elected together

13th amendment

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude

14th amendment

Gave citizenship and equal rights to anyone born in the U.S. (includes due process and equal protection).

Due process clause

the government must follow fair procedures and treat everyone fairly before taking away someone's life, liberty, or property

Equal protection clause

requires states to practice equal protection and not draw distinctions between individuals solely on differences that are irrelevant to a legitimate governmental objective.

15th amendment

All american men can vote (no matter their race, color, or if they were once 

enslaved)

16th amendment

Lets federal government collect income taxes.

17th amendment

direct election of United States Senators by popular vote

There is currently only one major position in the country that is not elected by popular vote. Which is it?

the president

18th amendment

Prohibits the manufacturing or sale of alcohol (not active)

19th amendment

Bans voting discrimination by sex: women can vote.

20th amendment

Changes when the president, vice president, and Congress members start and end their terms

21st amendment

Repeals the 18th amendment (prohibition)

22nd amendment

Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president

23rd amendment

Grants the District of Columbia electors

24th amendment

made poll taxes (fees to vote) illegal

25th amendment

Addresses succession to the presidency

26th amendment

lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

27th amendment

Congress can’t give itself a raise until after the next election

Four amendments about voting, which are they?

15th, 19th, 24th, 26th

What can only U.S citizens do?

vote, serve on a jury, run for federal office

Currently two major political parties:

democratic, republican

Last day to file for federal income taxes to the IRS

April 15th

Selective service means

all men ages 18-26 must register for war

U.S economic system is

capitalist/market economy

George Washington

first president, father of our country

Thomas Jefferson

Author of Declaration of Independence

Abraham Lincoln

Author of emancipation Proclamation (led to the 13th amendment)

President during WWI

Woodrow Wilson

FDR

President during Great Depression and WWII (12 years)

Benjamin Franklin

• U.S diplomat

• oldest member of constitutional convention

• first postmaster general of U.S

• wrote “Poor Richard’s Almanac”

• First free libraries

• Discovered electricity

Susan B. Anthony

fought for women’s rights and against slavery

MLK jr

leader of the civil rights movement

Executive Branch is made up of

President, VP, and Cabinet

Executive Branch does what?

enforces laws passed by congress

Legislative Branch is made up of?

House of Representatives and Senate

Legislative Branch does what?

makes laws

Judicial branch is made up of who?

Supreme Court and other federal courts

Judicial branch does what?

Decides if laws follow the Constitution

What are the presidential powers?

• Ability to sign treaties, set national policy, select ambassadors

• proposes laws to Congress

• Names top leaders of federal departments and Supreme Court Justices

• Signs bills from Congress to become law (or veto)

In regards to the military what is the President?

Commander in Chief

How many senators do we have?

100

How many members in the House of Representatives

435

How long is a term in the senate?

6 years

How long is a term in the House of Representatives

2 years

How many justices on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the current chief justice?

John Roberts Jr.

Federal government powers

print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties

State powers

provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire departments), approving zoning and land use, licensure requirements (marriage, drivers license)

Power the federal and state government share?

Ability to tax

The U.S Constitution does all the following except:

a) defines what federal government can do

b) defines what states can do

c) set up the government

d) protect basic rights of Americans

B

The first amendment gives the following rights except?

a) religion

b) petition the government

c) assembly

d) vote

D

How many amendments are there currently in the U.S Constitution?

a) 10

b) 24

c) 27

d) 28

C

Freedoms not outlined in the U.S constitution were outlined in?

a) The Federalist Papers

b) The Bill of Rights

c) The Articles of Confederation

d) The Declaration of Independence

B

Which of the following are rights in the Declaration of Independence?

a) Life, liberty, and property

b) Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

c) The Articles of Confederation

d) Right to petition the government

B

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

a) Justice for all

b) We the people

c) We the citizens

d) Liberty for all

B

What is the economic system in the U.S?

a) Communist system

b) Capitalist economy

c) Federalist system

d) Command economy

B

The rule of law states:

a) no one is above the law

b) executive privilege trumps certain laws

c) right to practice any religion or none at all

d) right to petition the government

A

The proper order of succession if the President is no longer able to serve?

Vice president, then speaker of the House

Who makes federal laws?

Legislative branch

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

a) 2

b) 4

c) 6

d) 8

C

There are how many voting members in the U.S House of Representatives?

a) 100

b) 430

c) 435

d) 450

C