Alabama Civics Exam Prep (copy)

Answers formatted with semicolons like this: Answer A; Answer B; Answer C are answers that have multiple possible answers.

What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution of the United States

What does the constitution do?

Guideline to run the country; Document that created the U.S. Federal Government; Rule Book

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

“We the people”

What is an amendment?

A change or addition to the U.S. constitution

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights

What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?

Free Press; Religion; Freedom of Speech; Peaceful Assembly; Petition the Government

How many amendments does the constitution have?

27 Amendments

What did the declaration of independence do?

Announced our independence from Britain; Declared our independence from England; Stated that the 13 colonies would be free from English rule.

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life; Liberty; Pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

You can be any religion or not be religious at all.

What is the economic system in the United States?

Trade/Free Enterprise; Capitalism

What is the “rule of law”?

No one is above the law, everyone is to obey the law, and the government (including government officials) must obey the law.

Name one branch or part of 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 + Their Cabinet

Who makes federal Laws?

US Congress; House + The Senate; Legislative Branch

What are the two parts of of the US Congress?

The Senate and The House of Representatives

How many US Senators are there?

100

We elect a US senator for how many years?

6

Who is one of your state’s US Senators now?

Katie Britt; Tommy Tuberville

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435

We elect a US Representative for how many years?

2

Name Your US Representative District and District representative:

District 6, representative Gary Palmer

Who does a US Senator represent?

All the people of a state

Why do some states have more representatives than other states?

States with higher populations get more representatives

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 President of the United States now?

Donald J. Trump

What is the name of the Vice President now?

James Davis Vance

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

The vice president

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

According to the 25th amendment, the Speaker of the House will become president.

Who is the commander in chief of the military?

The President is the commander in chief of the military

Who signs bills to become laws?

The president signs bills to become laws

Who vetoes bills?

The president vetoes bills

What does the President’s cabinet do?

Advise the President and carry out functions of the executive branch.

What are two cabinet level positions?

Secretary if Agriculture; Secretary of Education; Attorney General; Secretary of Labor; Secretary of Defense; Secretary of the Interior

What does the judicial branch do?

Review Laws; Explain Laws; Resolve/Settle Disputes; decide the constitutionality of laws

What is the highest court in the United States?

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS)

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?

Declare War; Create an Army/Navy; Create Treaties (senate); Coin/Print money

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

Issue Driver’s Licenses; Hunting/Fishing Licenses; Education of Youth; Zoning Laws; Police/Fire safety

Who is the governor of your state now?

Kay Ivey

What is the capital of your state?

Montgomery, AL

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

Democrats and Republicans

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. What are they & what do they do?

15th amendment = All men can vote (1870);

23rd Amendment = D.C. Citizens can vote (1961);

19th Amendment = All women can vote (1920);

26th amendment = All 18 yr olds can vote (1971)

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

Jury Duty

Name 2 rights only for US citizens:

Right to vote; Right to run for public office

What are the rights of everyone living in the US?

Freedom of Religion; Freedom of Assembly; Freedom of Speech; Freedom of Petition; Freedom of Expression; Right to Bear Arms

What do we show loyalty to when we say pledge of allegiance?

United States of America; The republic for which it stands

What is one promise you make when you become a United States Citizen?

to give up loyalty to previous nation; to be loyal to the United States; defend the US constitution and Laws; to obey Fed & State Laws; serve in the military if needed; serve the nation if needed.

How old do citizens have to be vote for President?

18 years old (25th amendment)

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

join a political party; help with a campaign; vote; join a civic group; join a community group; give an elected official your opinion; run for office; call Senators and Representatives; Publicly support an issue or candidate; write an editorial in a newspaper; run for office

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

April 15th

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

18 yrs old; Between 18-25 yrs old

What are the reasons colonists came to America?

Freedom; Political Liberty; Religious Freedom; Economic Opportunity; escape persecution

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Native American or American Indians

What group of people were sold into Slavery in America?

West Africans

Why did the colonists fight the british?

Taxation without representation; Troops Quartered in their homes; no self government

Who wrote the declaration of independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the declaration of independence adopted?

July 4th, 1776

Name the 13 original states:

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

What happened at the constitutional convention?

The constitution was written

When was the constitution written?

1787

The federalist papers supported the passage of the US constitution. Name the writers:

Alexander Hamilton; James Madison; John Jay; All 3 wrote under the pen name Publius

What things are Benjamin Franklin famous for?

Founder of Post Office; Scientist and Inventor; Founder of Free Library System; Diplomat for the US in France; Delegate at the Constitutional Convention

Who is the “Father of our Country”?

George Washington is the “Father of our Country”

Who was the first president?

George Washington was the first president

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

Louisiana territory

Name the wars fought by the US in the 1800s:

US Civil War; War of 1812; Mexican-American War; Spanish-American War

Name the US war between the north and south?

War Between the States; Civil War

Name problems that led to the Civil War:

Slavery; Economic Issues; State’s Rights

What was an important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

Led the US during the civil War; Emancipation Proclamation; Gettysburg Address

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed Slaves; Freed slaves in confederate states;

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Fought for women’s rights; Fought for civil rights of all people;

Name the wars fought by the US in the 1900s.

World War 1; World War 2; Korean War; Vietnam War; Persian Gulf War

Who was president during world war 1?

Woodrow Wilson

Who was the president during the Great Depression and World War 2?

Franklin D. Roosevelt (F.D.R.)

Who did the United States fight in World War 2?

Germany, Italy, and Japan

Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general in what war?

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 major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

9/11

Name American Indian Tribes in the United States:

Creek; Choctaw; Sioux; Cherokee; Seminole; Navajo; Apache

Name the two longest rivers in the United States:

The Mississippi and the Missouri

What ocean is on the WEST coast of the United States?

Pacific

What ocean is on the EAST coast of the United States?

Atlantic

Name the US territories:

Puerto Rico; Guam; American Samoa; US Virgin Islands; Northern Marianas Islands; D.C.

Name the states that border Canada:

Minnesota; North Dakota; Idaho; Washington; Montana; Maine; New Hampshire; Vermont; New York; Michigan; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Alaska

Name the states that border Mexico:

California; New Mexico; Texas; Arizona

What is the capital of the United States?

Washington D.C.

Where is the statue of Liberty?

New York Harbor

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

To represent the 13 original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

To represent the 50 states

What is the name of the National Anthem?

“The Star-Spangled Banner”

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

July 4th

Name the national US holidays:

New Years Day; MLK Jr. Day; President’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus/Indigenous Ppls Day; Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas