128 Civics Questions and Answers 2025

What is the form of the government of the United States?

Republic

What is the supreme law of the land?

(U.S.) Consittution

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

Forms the government

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the people." What does "We the people" mean?

self-government

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

Amendements

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

(The basic) rights of Americans

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

27

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

It says all people are created equal

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

Liberty

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

What is the rule of law?

Everyone must follow the law

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

Declaration of Independence

There are three branches of government. Why?

Checks and balances

or

Separation of powers

Name the three branches of government

Legislative, executive, and judicial

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

Executive branch

What parts of the federal government write laws?

(U.S) Congress

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

Senate and House (of Representatives)

Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

Writes laws

How many U.S. senators are there?

100

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

6 years

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

Jack Reed (RI)

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

435

How long is the term of 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?

2

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation (for small states)

Name your U.S. representative?

Gabe Amo (D1)

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

Who elects U.S. senators?

Citizens from their state

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

Citizens in their district

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

Citizens from their (congressional) district

Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

(Because of) the state's population

Or

(Because) they have more people

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

4 years

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

(Because of) The 22nd Amendment.

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

Donald Trump

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

JD Vance

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

The vice president

Name one power of the president

Signs bills into law

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

The president

Who signs bills to become laws?

The president

Who vetoes bills?

The president

Who appoints federal judges?

The President

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

President

What does the President's Cabinet do?

Advises the President

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Vice president & Attorney General

Why is the Electoral College important?

It decides who is elected president

What is one part of the judicial branch?

Supreme court

What does the judicial branch do?

Reviews laws

Or

Explains laws

What is the highest court in the United States?

Supreme Court

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

Nine (9)

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

5

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

For life

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

To be independent (of politics)

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts

Name one power that is only for the federal government.

Print paper money

Name one power that is only for the states.

Provide schooling and education

or

Provide protection/safety

or

Give a driver's license

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

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

Who is the governor of your state now?

Dan McKee (RI)

What is the capital of your state

Providence (RI)

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

Any citizen can vote.

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

Citizens

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

Freedom of expression

Freedom of speech

Freedom of religion

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

The United States

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

Be loyal to the united states

Obey the laws of the united states

How can people become United States Citizens?

Naturalize

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

Vote

Run for office

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Vote

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Required by law

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?

Native Americans

What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

Africans

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

American Revolution

Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

High Taxes

or

Boston Tea Party

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.

Declaration of Independence

There were 13 original states. Name five.

New Hampshire • Massachusetts • Rhode Island • Connecticut • New York • New Jersey • Pennsylvania • Delaware • Maryland • Virginia • North Carolina • South Carolina • 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.

Madison

Hamilton

Jay

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

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

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

Founded the first free public libraries

or

Helped write the Declaration of Independence

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

"Father of our country"

or

1st president of the united states

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Writer of the Declaration of Independence

or

Third president of the United States

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

"Father of the Constitution"

or

Fourth president of the United States

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

First Secretary of the Treasury

Or

Helped establish the First Bank of the United States

What territory did the United States buy in 1803?

Louisiana

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

Civil War

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

The Civil War

The Civil war had many important events. Name one.

Lincoln was assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

Freed the slaves

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed the slaves

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

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

Susan B. Anthony

Or

Harriet Tubman

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

WW1

WW2

Vietnam War