Citizenship Test

The supreme law of the land is __________.

the Constitution

The Constitution __________.

sets up the government, defines the government, and 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

An amendment is __________.

a change (or addition) to the Constitution

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called

the Bill of Rights

One right or freedom from the First Amendment is __________.

speech, religion, assembly, press, or petition the government

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

twenty-seven (27)

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Declared our independence from Great Britain

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

life; liberty; pursuit of happiness

What does freedom of religion mean?

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

The economic system in the United States is __________.

capitalist economy or market economy

The rule of law means __________.

Everyone must follow the law, leaders must obey the law, government must obey the law, and no one is above the law.

Name one branch or part of the government.

Congress, the President, legislative, executive, the courts, judicial

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

checks and balances or separation of powers

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

the President

Who makes federal laws?

Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), US legislature

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

the Senate and House of Representatives

How many U.S. Senators are there?

one hundred (100)

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

six (6)

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

four hundred thirty-five (435)

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

two (2)

Who does a US Senator represent?

all people of the state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

the state’s population

We elect a President for how many years?

four (4)

In what month do we vote for President?

November

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

the Vice President

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

Interprets laws, reviews, explains, resolves disputes, and decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What is the highest court in the United States?

the Supreme Court

 What is one power of the federal government?

to print money, to declare war, to create an army, to make treaties

What is one power of the states?

provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire department), give a driver’s license, approve zoning and land use

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

Democratic and Republican

Describe one of the four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote.

eighteen (18) and older, you dont have to pay a poll tax to vote, citizens regardless of gender can vote, citizens regardless of 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, 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?

defend the Constitution and laws of the United States, obey the laws of the US, serve in the US military if needed, serve/ do important work for the nation if needed, be loyal to the US

How old do citizens have to be to vote for president?

18 and older

What are two ways that American citizens can participate in their democracy?

vote, run for office, join a political part, help a campaign, join a civic group, write to a newspaper

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

april 15

when must all men register for the selective service?

between 18 and 26

what is one reason colonists came to america

religious freedom, freedom, political opportunity

who lived in america before the europeans arrived?

native americans

what group of people was taken to america and sold as slaves?

africans

why did the colonists fight the british

because of high taxes, because the british army stayed in their houses, because they didnt 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 3

New York, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania

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 consitutiton. Name one of the authors

James Madison

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

US diplomat, oldest member of the constitutional convention, 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 US buy from france in 1803?

Louisiana

Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s

War of 1812, Civil War, Mexican American War, Spanish American War

Name the US war between the north and the south

civil war

name one problem that led to the civil war

slavery

what was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did

emancipation proclamation

what did the emancipation proclamation do?

freed the slaves

What did Susan B Anthony do?

fought for women’s rights

Name one war fought by the US in the 1900s

WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War

Who was president during world war 1?

Woodrow Wilson

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

Franklin Roosevelt

Who did the US fight in WW2?

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 US?

Communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

civil rights movement

What did Martin Luther King Jr do?

fought for civil rights

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the US?

terrorists attacked the US

Name one American indian tribe in the US

cherokee

name one of the two longest rivers in the US

mississippi, missouri

what ocean is on the west coast of the US?

pacific ocean

what ocean is on the east coast of the US?

atlantic ocean

name one US territory

Puerto Rico, US virgin islands, American Samoa, North Mariana Islands, Guam

name one state that borders canada

New York, Maine, New hampshire

Name one state that borders mexico

california, texas

what is the capital of the US?

Washington DC

Where is the statue of liberty?

New york harbor

why does the flag have 13 stripes?

to represent the 13 original states

why does the flag have 50 stars?

there is one star for each state

when do we celebrate independence day?

July 4

Name two national US hoidays

Independence day, Christmas, thanksgiving