Ciudadania 128 preguntas 2025-2025

What is the form of government of the United States?

Representative democracy

What is the supreme law of the land?

The United States Constitution

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

Forms the government and protects the rights of the people

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?

The amendment process

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

(The basic) rights of Americans

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

Twenty-seven (27)

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

It says America is free from British control.

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 / Self-government

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. / No one is above the law.

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

Declaration of Independence/ • Federalist Papers

There are three branches of government. Why?

Separation of powers

Name the three branches of government.

• Congress, president, and the courts

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

Executive branch

What part of the federal government writes 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?

One hundred (100)

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

Six (6) years

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

Alex Padilla (Democrat)

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

Four hundred thirty-five (435)

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

Two (2) 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?

Two (2)

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation (for small states) /The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Name your U.S. representative.

Laura Friedman

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Mike Johnson

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

People 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

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

Four (4) years

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

To keep the president from becoming too powerful and 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 of the United States(JD Vance)

Name one power of the president.

Signs bills into law/ Commander in Chief of the military

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

The President of the United States

Who signs bills to become laws?

The President of the United States

Who vetoes bills?

The President of the United States

Who appoints federal judges?

The President of the United States

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

President of the United States/Cabinet

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Advises the President of the United States

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Vice-President/Secretary of State /Secretary of War (Defense)

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 and 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?

Five (5)

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

Until retirement

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.

Create an army/Declare war

Name one power that is only for the states.

Provide education, protection and safety.

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?

Gavin Newson

What is the capital of your state?

Sacramento

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

Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote / Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)

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

Citizens of the United States

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 and the flag

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

Defend the U.S. Constitution/ Obey the laws of the United States

How can people become United States citizens?

Naturalize / Be born in the United States under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment

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

Vote/Join a political party / Help with a campaign

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Vote/ Pay taxes

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

All people pay to fund the federal government and it is 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/ Civic duty

The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.

Religious freedom/Political liberty

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 / Sugar Act

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/ Battle of Bunker Hill

There were 13 original states. Name five.

New York/New Jersey/North Carolina/South Carolina/Delaware

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.

James Madison

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

They helped people understand the U.S. Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

Inventor/U.S. diplomat/Helped write the Declaration of Independence

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

First president of the United States/ General of the Continental Army

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Writer of the Declaration of Independence/Third president of the United States

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

Father of the Constitution/One of the writers of the Federalist Papers

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

First Secretary of the Treasury/ Helped establish the First Bank of the United States

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

Louisiana Territory

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

War of 1812/ Civil War / Mexican-American War

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

The Civil War

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

Emancipation Proclamation/Lincoln was assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) / Saved (or preserved) the Union

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.

Lucy Stone

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

World War I/ World War II