Alabama Civics Exams Study

What is the supreme law of the land?

Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

sets up the government, defines the government, protects basic rights of Americans

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

We the people

What is an amendment?

A change or addition to the Constitution

What do we call the first 10 amendments?

The Bill of Rights

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press and petition of the government

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

announced our independence (from Great Britain), declared our independence (from Great Britain), said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

What is the economic system in the United States?

capitalist economy, 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.

Name one branch or part of the government.

legislative, executive, judicial

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

checks and balances & separation of powers

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

president

Who makes federal laws?

Congress, Senate and House (of Representatives), (U.S. or national) legislature

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

Senate and House of Representatives

How many U.S. Senators are there?

100

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

6

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

Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville

The house of representatives has how many voting members?

435

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

2 years

Name your U.S. Representative.

Gary Palmer

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

all people of the state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

the states population, they have more people, some states have more people

We elect a President for how many years?

4 years

In what month do we vote for President?

November

What is the name of the US President now?

Joe Biden

What is the name of your Vice President now?

Kamala Harris

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

Vice President

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

The speaker of the house

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

president

Who signs bills to become laws?

president

Who vetoes bills?

president

What does the President's Cabinet do?

advises the President

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of State

What does the judicial branch do?

reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disputes (disagreements), decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What is the highest court in the United States?

Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

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

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

provide schooling & education, provide protection (police), provide safety

Who is the Governor of your state now?

Kay Ivey

What is the capital of your state?

Montgomery

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

Democratic & Republican

What is the political party of the President now?

Democrat

What is the name of the Speaker of the house of representatives now?

Kevin McCarthy

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

citizens 18 +, you don't have to pay a poll tax to vote, any citizen can vote (women & men), a male of any race can vote

What is 1 responsibility that is only for U.S citizens?

serve on a jury , vote in a federal election

Name 1 right only for US citizens

vote in a federal election, run for federal office

What are 2 rights of everyone living in the U.S?

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion

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

the U.S and the flag

What is 1 promise you make when you become a US citizen?

obey the laws of the U.S

How old do you have to be to vote for president?

18 or older

What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

vote or help with a campaign

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

April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

between age 18 & 26

What is 1 reason colonists came to America?

religious freedom

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Native Americans

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

Africans

Why did the colonists fight the British?

because of high taxes, because the British army stayed in their houses , because they didn't have self-government

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

Name 3 original states.

New York; North Carolina; South Carolina

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution

When was the Constitution written?

1787

The Federalists Papers supported the passage of the U.S constitution. Name 1 of the writers.

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison

What is 1 thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

U.S. diplomat

Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

George Washington

Who was the first President?

George Washington

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

Louisiana Territory

Name 1 war fought by the US in the 1800s

Civil War

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

Civil War

Name 1 problem that led to the Civil War.

slavery

What was 1 important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

freed the slaves

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

freed the slaves in the most south

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

fought for women's rights, fought for civil rights

Name 1 war fought by the United States in the 1900s

World War 1

Who was President during World War I?

Woodrow Wilson

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

Franklin Roosevelt

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

Japan, Germany, and Italy

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

World War 2

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

Communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

civil rights movement

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

fought for civil rights, worked for equality for all Americans

What happened (Major event) on Sept. 11, 2001 in the U.S?

Terrorists attacked the U.S

Name 1 American Indian tribe in the United States.

Cherokee

Name 1 of the two longest rivers in the United States.

Mississippi River, Missouri River

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

Pacific Ocean

What ocean is on the East coast of the U.S?

Atlantic Ocean

Name 1 U.S. territory.

U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico

Name 1 state that borders Canada.

New York, Vermont

Name 1 state that borders Mexico.

Texas, New Mexico

What is the capital of the U.S

Washington D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

New York Harbor

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

because there were 13 original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

because there is one star for each state

What is the name of the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

July 4

Name 2 national US holidays

Christmas and Thanksgiving, Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day, Memorial Day