US citizenship test (copy)

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