Civics Questions and Answers

Flashcards for the Civics portion of the US Naturalization Test (2008 version)

Constitution

The supreme law of the land.

Constitution

Sets up and defines the government and protects the basic rights of Americans.

Amendment

A change or addition to the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

First Amendment

Guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition.

Declaration of Independence

Announced and declared the independence of the United States from Great Britain.

Rights in the Declaration of Independence

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Freedom of Religion

The right to practice any religion or no religion.

Capitalist/Market Economy

The economic system in the United States.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including leaders and the government, must obey the law; no one is above the law.

Branches of Government

Congress (legislative), President (executive), the courts (judicial).

Checks and Balances/Separation of Powers

Prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Executive Branch

Headed by the President.

Federal Laws

Made by Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

U.S. Congress

Composed of the Senate and House of Representatives.

U.S. Senators

There are one hundred (100).

U.S. Senator Term Length

Six (6) years.

House of Representatives Voting Members

Four hundred thirty-five (435).

U.S. Representative Term Length

Two (2) years.

U.S. Senator Representation

Represents all people of the state.

State Representatives

Some states have more representatives due to population.

President Term Length

Four (4) years.

Presidential Election Month

November.

President

Signs bills to become laws; Commander in Chief of the military.

Vice President

Becomes President if the President can no longer serve.

Speaker of the House

Becomes President if both the President and Vice President can no longer serve.

President's Cabinet

Advises the President.

Judicial Branch

Reviews and explains laws, resolves disputes, and decides if laws go against the Constitution.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States.

Federal Government Powers

To print money, declare war, create an army, and make treaties.

State Powers

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

Democratic and Republican

The two major political parties in the United States.

Voting Age

Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote.

Responsibilities for U.S. Citizens

Serve on a jury and vote in a federal election.

Rights only for U.S. Citizens

Vote in a federal election and run for federal office.

Rights of Everyone Living in the U.S.

Freedom of expression, speech, assembly, to petition the government, religion, and the right to bear arms.

Pledge of Allegiance

Shows loyalty to the United States and the flag.

Promises When Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution and laws, obey laws, serve in the military if needed, serve the nation if needed, and be loyal to the U.S.

Ways to Participate in Democracy

Vote, join a political party/civic group, help with a campaign, give opinion on an issue, call Senators/Representatives, support or oppose an issue, run for office, write to a newspaper.

Federal Income Tax Form Deadline

April 15.

Selective Service Registration

All men must register at age eighteen (18) and between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26).

Reasons Colonists Came to America

Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, practice their religion, escape persecution.

Original Inhabitants of America

American Indians, Native Americans.

People Enslaved and Brought to America

Africans, people from Africa.

Reasons Colonists Fought the British

High taxes, British army stayed in their houses, no self-government.

Declaration of Independence Writer

Thomas Jefferson.

Declaration of Independence Adoption

July 4, 1776.

Original States

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia.

Constitutional Convention

The Constitution was written; the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

Constitution Written

1787.

Federalist Papers Writers

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay (Publius).

Benjamin Franklin

U.S. diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General, writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”, started the first free libraries.

Father of Our Country

George Washington.

First President

George Washington.

Louisiana Territory

Territory the United States bought from France in 1803.

Wars in the 1800s

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

Civil War

U.S. war between the North and the South; also known as the War between the States.

Problems Leading to the Civil War

Slavery, economic reasons, states’ rights.

Abraham Lincoln

Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved (or preserved) the Union, led the United States during the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

Freed the slaves in the Confederacy and in most Southern states.

Susan B. Anthony

Fought for women's rights and civil rights.

Wars in the 1900s

World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, (Persian) Gulf War.

President During World War I

Woodrow Wilson.

President During the Great Depression and World War II

Franklin Roosevelt.

World War II

The United States fought against Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

General in World War II before becoming President.

Cold War Concern

Communism.

Civil Rights Movement

Tried to end racial discrimination.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fought for civil rights and worked for equality for all Americans.

September 11, 2001

Terrorists attacked the United States.

Longest Rivers in the United States

Missouri River and Mississippi River.

West Coast Ocean

Pacific Ocean.

East Coast Ocean

Atlantic Ocean.

U.S. Territories

Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam.

States Bordering Canada

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.

States Bordering Mexico

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Capital of the United States

Washington, D.C.

Statue of Liberty

Located in New York Harbor (Liberty Island); also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson River.

U.S. Flag Stripes

13 stripes because there were 13 original colonies.

U.S. Flag Stars

50 stars because there is one star for each state.

National Anthem

The Star-Spangled Banner.

Independence Day

July 4.

National U.S. Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.