Studied by 8 people
What is the supreme law of the land
▪The 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 three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
▪ We the people
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an 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?*
▪ Speech
▪ Religion
▪ Assembly
▪Press
▪ Petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
▪ twenty-seven (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
▪ 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.*
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ 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?
▪ the 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?*
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ 100
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
▪ six (6)
Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?*
▪ Marco Rubio
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
▪435
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
▪ two (2)
Name yourU.S. Representative.
▪Donna Shalala
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
▪ all people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪(because of) the states population
▪(because) they have more people
▪(because) some states have more people
We elect a President for how many years?
▪ four (4)
In what month do we vote for President?*
▪ November
What is the name of the President of theUnited States now?*
▪ Donald J Trump
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
▪ Mike Pence
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ The 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?
▪ 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-level 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 the 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
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is the highest court in the United States?
▪ the Supreme Court
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
▪ nine (9)
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
▪ John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
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?
▪Providing schooling and education
▪Provide protection (police)
▪Provide safety (fire departments)
▪Give a driver's license
▪Approve zoning and land use
Who is the Governor of your state now?
▪Ron DeSantis
What is the capital of your state?*
▪Tallahassee
What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
▪Democratic and Republican
What is the political party of the President now?
▪Republican Party
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
▪ Nancy Pelosi
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
▪Citizen 18 and older
▪ You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
▪Any citizen can vote (women and men can vote)
▪A male citizen of any race (can vote)
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
▪Serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens.
▪ vote in a federal election
▪ run for federal office
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
▪Freedom of expression
▪Freedom of speech
▪Freedom of assembly
▪Freedom to petition the government
▪Freedom of religion
▪ 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?
▪give up loyalty to other countries
▪defend the constitution and laws of the United States
▪Obey the laws of the United States
▪Serve in the U.S military( if needed)
▪Serve (do important work for) the nation
▪ be loyal to the United States
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
▪18 and older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
▪vote
▪join a political party
▪help with a campaign
▪join a community group
▪join a civic group
▪run for office
▪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 the Selective Service?
▪at age 18
▪btw 18 and 26
What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
▪ American Indians
▪ Native Americans
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
▪Africans
▪people from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
▪ 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
There were 13 original states. Name three.
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Massachusetts
▪ Rhode Island
▪ Connecticut
▪ New York
▪ New Jersey
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Delaware
▪ Maryland
▪ Virginia
▪ North Carolina
▪ South Carolina
▪ 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 one of the writers.
▪ James Madison
▪ Alexander Hamilton
▪ John Jay
▪ Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
▪ U.S. diplomat
▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
▪ first Postmaster General of the United States
▪ writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
▪ 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?
▪Louisiana
▪The Louisiana Territory
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
▪Civil war
▪War of 1812
▪Mexican-American war
▪Spanish-American war
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
▪ the Civil War
▪ the War between the States
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
▪ slavery
▪ economic reasons
▪ states' rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
▪Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
▪saved (or preserved) the union
▪led the United States during Civil war
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
▪ freed the slaves
▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy
▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states
▪ freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ fought for women's rights
▪ fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
▪World War 1
▪World War 2
▪Korean war
▪Vietnam 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 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 major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
▪Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
▪Cherokee
▪Seminole
▪Crow
▪Navajo
▪Sioux
▪Chippewa
▪Choctaw
▪Pueblo
▪Apache
▪Iroquois
▪Creek
▪Blackfeet
▪Cheyenne
▪Arawak
▪Shawnee
▪Mohegan
▪Huron
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
▪Missouri (river)
▪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
▪ U.S. Virgin Islands
▪ American Samoa
▪ Northern Mariana Islands
▪ Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Vermont
▪ New York
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Ohio
▪ Michigan
▪ Minnesota
▪ North Dakota
▪ Montana
▪ Idaho
▪ Washington
▪ 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 (Harbor)
▪ Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
▪ because there were 13 original colonies
▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
▪ because there is one star for each state
▪ because each star represents a state
▪ because there are 50 states
What is the name of the national anthem?
▪ The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
▪ July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
▪ New Year's Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents' Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas
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Flashcard (37)