Studied by 4 people
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
sets up the government
defines the government
protects the basic rights of Americans
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the people
What is an amendment?
A change or addition to the 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?
freedom of speech
freedom of religion
freedom of assembly
freedom of the press
freedom to petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
announced US independence from England, July 4th, 1776
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life
Liberty
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 \n leaders must obey the law \n government must obey the law \n no one is above the law
Name one branch or part of the government.
legislative \n executive \n judicial \n Congress \n President \n the courts
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances \n separation of powers
Who is in charge of the Executive branch?
the President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress \n Senate and House \n Legislature
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate \n House of Representatives
How many U.S Senators are there?
100
A U.S. senator is elected for how many years?
6 years
Who is one of your state's Senators right now?
Dianne Feinstein
Alex Padilla
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
A U.S representative is elected for how many years?
2
Name your U.S representative
Michelle Steel
Who does a U.S Senator represent?
All the people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than other states?
because some states have more people (population)
A president is elected for how many years?
4
In what month do we vote for President ?
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
President Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Vice President 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?
Speaker of the House
Who is the commander in chief of the military?
the President
Who signs bills to become laws?
the President
Who vetoes bills?
the President
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President
What are two cabinet positions?
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws \n explains laws \n resolves disputes (disagreements) \n 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?
power to print money \n make treaties \n declare war \n create an army
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education \n Provide protection (police) \n Provide safety (fire departments) \n Give a driver's license \n Approve zoning and land use
Who is Governor of your state now?
Gavin Newsom
What is the capital of your state?
Sacramento, CA
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democrat \n Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic Party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Kevin McCarthyy
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
- Citizens 18 and older (can vote)
- You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
- Any citizen can vote (Women and men can vote).
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
Serve on a jury \n vote in a federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens.
vote in federal election \n run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
freedom of religion
freedom of speech
freedom of expression
freedom of assembly
freedom to petition the government
the right to bear arms
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Be loyal to the U.S. \n defend the Constitution \n obey the laws \n serve in the U.S. military (if needed) \n serve the nation (if needed)
How old do citizens have to be to vote for a President?
18 or older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
vote \n join a political party \n help with a campaign \n join a civic group \n join a community group \n give an elected official your opinion on an issue \n call Senators and Representatives \n publicly support or oppose an issue or policy \n run for office \n write to a newspaper
When is the last day you can send in Federal income tax forms?
April 15
When must all men register for Selective Service?
18
between 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom \n political liberty \n religious freedom \n economic opportunity \n practice their religion \n escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans or American Indians
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans \n people from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
because of high taxes (taxation without representation) \n because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) \n because they didn't have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4th, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name three.
New Hampshire \n Massachusetts \n Rhode Island \n Connecticut \n New York \n New Jersey \n Pennsylvania \n Delaware \n Maryland \n Virginia \n North Carolina \n South Carolina \n Georgia
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
When was the Constitution written?
1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name the authors.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
U.S. diplomat \n 1st Postmaster General of the U.S. \n writer of the "Poor Richard's Almanac" \n started the first free libraries
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?
Louisianna Territory; Louisianna
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800's.
War of 1812 \n Mexican-American War \n Civil War \n Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
the Civil War \n the War between the States
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery \n economic reasons \n states' rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
Freed the slaves \n Saved (or preserved) the Union \n Led the U.S. through the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves \n freed slaves in the Confederacy \n freed slaves in the Confederate states \n freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for women's rights and civil rights
Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s.
Vietnam War, WW1, WW2, Korean War, Persian Gulf War
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 U.S. fight in WW II?
Japan, Germany, Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
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?
Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one Indian tribe in the United States?
Cherokee \n Navajo \n Sioux \n Chippewa \n Choctaw \n Pueblo \n Apache \n Iroquois \n Creek \n Blackfeet \n Seminole \n Cheyenne \n Arawak \n Shawnee \n Mohegan \n Huron \n Oneida \n Lakota \n Crow \n Teton \n Hopi \n Inuit
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States?
Missouri River or Mississippi River
What ocean is on the West coast of the United States?
Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the East coast of the United States?
Atlantic Ocean
Name one U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico \n U.S. Virgin Islands \n American Samoa \n Northern Mariana Islands \n Guam
Name one state that borders Canada
Maine \n New Hampshire \n Vermont \n New York \n Pennsylvania \n Ohio \n Michigan \n Minnesota \n North Dakota \n Montana \n Idaho \n Washington \n Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbour or Liberty Island
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
For the original 13 colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
For the 50 states
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th
Name two national holidays?
New Year's Day \n Martin Luther King, Jr. Day \n Presidents' Day \n Memorial Day \n Independence Day \n Labor Day \n Columbus Day \n Veterans Day \n Thanksgiving \n Christmas
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Flashcard (25)