US Civics and Government Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the US government structure, constitutional amendments, key historic documents, and significant events in American history.

Constitutional-based federal republic

The form of government of the United States, which also functions as a representative democracy.

US Constitution

The supreme law of the land that forms the government.

Popular sovereignty

The idea, expressed by the words 'We the People', that the people should govern themselves.

Amendment process

The method used to make changes to the US Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments that protect the basic rights of Americans or people living in the US.

27

The total number of amendments currently in the US constitution.

Declaration of Independence

The founding document that said the American colonies were free from britain, stating that all people are created equal and have individual freedoms.

Capitalism

The economic system of the US, also known as a free market economy.

Rule of law

The principle that absolutely everyone must follow the law and no one is above it.

Checks and balances

A system used to ensure that not one part of the government becomes too powerful, alongside separation of powers.

Three branches of government

The Legislative (congress), Executive (president), and Judicial (the courts) branches.

US Congress

The part of the federal government that writes laws, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

100

The total number of US senators.

6 years

The length of a term for a US senator.

Jeanne Shaheen

One of current US senators for the state.

435

The number of voting members in the House of Representatives.

2 years

The length of a term for a member of the House of Representatives.

The great compromise

The reason why each state has 2 senators, providing equal repression for small states.

Chris Pappas

The specific US representative named in the notes.

Mike Johnson

The current Name of the Spreaker of the house of representatives.

4 years

The length of time the President of the US is elected for.

Donald Trump

The name of the President of the US now.

JD Vance

The name of the Vice President of the US now.

President's cabinet

A group that advises the President, consisting of positions like Secretary of state and Vice president.

Electoral College

A compromise between popular election and congressional selection that decides who is elected president.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the US, consisting of 9 seats, which reviews/explains laws and decides if laws go against the constitution.

Life or until retirement

The length of time Supreme Court justices serve to limit outside influence.

John Roberts

The current CHief Justice of the US.

10th amendment

The amendment stating that power not given to the federal government belong to the states and people.

Kelly Ayotte

The current governor of the state.

Concord

The capital of the state mentioned in the notes.

Pledge of Allegiance

What Americans do to show loyalty to the US and the flag.

Oath of Allegiance

The promises new citizens make to obey the laws and give up loyalty to other countries.

Selective Service

A system all men aged 18 through 25 must register for as requereid by law.

July 4, 1776

The date the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

1787

The year the US Constitution was written.

The Federalist papers

A series of documents, written by authors like Alexander Hamilton, that supported the passage of the US constitution.

Benjamin Franklin

A famous figure who helped write the declaration of independence.

George Washington

The first president of the United States.

James Madison

The individual known as the “ father of the Constitution”.

Louisiana territory

The territory the United States bought from France in 1803.

The Civil War

The US war between the North and South during the 1800s that ended slavery.

Emancipation Proclamation

An order issued by Abraham Lincoln that Freed the slaves.

14th Amendment

The amendment that gives citizenship to all persons in the US.

Harriet Tubman

A leader of the women's right movements in the 1800s.

Stock market crash of 1929

The event that started the Great Depression.

Franklin Roosevelt

The president during the Great Depression and World War II.

Communism

The main concern of the United States during the Cold War, which led to entrance into the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Civil Rights Movement

A movement to end racial discrimination, featuring leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

September 11th 2001

The date of a major terrorist attack on the US.

Crow

One example of an American Indian tribe in the United States.

E Pluribus Unum

The first motto of the US, meaning 'We all become one'.

Memorial Day

A national holiday to honor soldiers who died in a military service.

Veterans Day

A national holiday to honor people in the US military service.