Citizenship Test Study Guide

Government of the US?

Representative democracy

Supreme law of the land?

US Constitution

One thing the Constitution does?

Forms and defines the power of the government

What does “We the People” mean?

That people should govern themselves

How are changes made to the constitution?

Through amendments

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

It protects the rights of Americans

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

It says the the US is free from Britian’s control

What document declared the colonies free from Britain?

The Declaration of Independence

Two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?

Equality and liberty

“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” is from what document?

The Declaration of Independence

Economic system of the US?

Capitalism

Rule of law?

Everyone must follow the law

One document that influenced the Constitution?

Articles of Confederation

Why three branches of government?

Checks and balances

Three branches of government?

Legislative, executive, judicial

President in in charge of what branch?

Executive

What part of the government writes laws?

Legislative branch

Two parts of the Congress?

Senate and House of Representatives

One power of the US congress?

Declares war

How many US Senators?

100

Term for a US senator?

6

One of NH’s US senators?

Maggie Hassan

Voting members in the House of Representatives?

435

Term for a member of the House of Representatives?

2

Why do US representatives serve shorter terms than US senators?

To more closely follow public opinion

How many senators does each state have?

2

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation

NH’s US representative?

Maggie Goodlander

Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Mike Johnson

Who does a US senator represent?

Citizens of their state

Who elects a US senator?

Citizens from the state

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

Citizens in their district

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

Citizens in their district

Some states have more representatives than other states, why?

Because of the states population

The president of the US is elected for how many years?

4

The president of the US can serve only 2 terms, why?

Because of the 22nd amendment

President of the US?

Donald Trump

Name of the VP of the US?

JD Vance

If a president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

VP

One power of the president?

Vetoes bills

Who is the commander in chief of the US military?

The President

Who signs bills to become laws?

The President

Who vetoes bills?

The President

Who appoints federal judges?

The President

One part of the executive branch?

President

What does the President's Cabinet do?

Advises the president

Two Cabinet-level positions?

Secretary of state and secretary of education

Why is the Electoral college important?

Decides who is elected president

One part of the judicial branch?

Supreme Court

What does the judicial branch do?

Reviews + explains laws

Highest court in the US?

Supreme Court

Seats on the Supreme Court?

9

Supreme Court justices needed to decide a case?

5

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

For life

Supreme Court justices serve for life, why?

To limit outside political influence

Chief Justice of the US?

John G. Roberts Jr

One power that is only for the federal government?

Declare war

One power that is only for the states?

Provide schooling + education

Purpose of the 10th amendment?

That the powers not given by the federal government belong to the states or the people

Governor of NH?

Kelly Ayotte

Capital of NH?

Concord

Four amendments about who can vote, describe one?

Any citizens can vote (men and women)

Who can vote, run for office, and serve on a jury in the US?

Citizens

Three rights of everyone living in the US?

Freedom of speech, religion, and expression

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

The flag and the US

Two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance?

Give up loyalty to other countries and defend the US Constitution

How can people become US citizens?

Be born in the US

Two examples of civic participation in the US?

Vote, run for office

One way Americans can serve their country?

Voting

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Required by law

Why is it important to register for the Selective Service?

Required by law

One reason the colonists came to the US?

Freedom

Who lived in the US before the Europeans arrived?

Native Americans

What groups of people were taken and sold as slaves?

Africans

What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

American Revolution

One reason why the Americans fought to win Independence from Britain?

High taxes

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

One event of the American Revolution?

Declaration of Independence

13 original states, name 5?

NH, Massachusetts, NY, Pennsylvania, Virginia

What document was written in 1787?

US Constitution

One writer of the Federalist Papers?

Alexander Hamilton

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

Helped people understand the Constitution

One thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

Inventor

One thing George Washington is famous for?

First president of the US

One thing Thomas Jefferson is famous for?

Writer of the Declaration of Independence

One thing James Madison is famous for?

Father of the Constitution

One thing Alexander Hamilton is famous for?

Writer of the Federalist papers

What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana

One war fought by the US in the 1800s?

Civil War

US war between North and South?

Civil War

One important event of the Civil War?

Emancipation Proclamation

One thing Abraham Lincoln is famous for?

Freed the slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed the slaves

What US war ended slavery?

Civil War

Amendment that gives citizenship to all people born in the US?

14th Amendment

When did all men get the right to vote?

1870 or 15th Amendment

One leader of the Women’s Rights Movement in the 1800s?

Harriet Tubman

One war fought by the US in the 1900s?

WWI