AP Gov Civics Test

What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

It sets up federal government while protecting basic rights

The idea of self-government is in the first words of the Constitution. What are these words?

We the people....

What is an amendment?

A change to the Constitution

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights

What rights and freedoms are listed in the First Amendment?

Freedoms of Speech, Petition, Assembly, Press, and Religion

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Announced independence from Great Britain

What are the three rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

The right to practice any religion

What is the economic system in the United States?

Capitalist Economy, Market Economy, Mixed Economy

What is the "rule of law"?

No one is above the law

According to the Constitution, what are the requirements to vote?

You need to be a citizen who is eighteen years old or older

What responsibility do you have as a U.S. citizen?

To serve on a jury

What rights are reserved only for United States citizens?

To vote in a federal election and run for federal office

What rights belong to everyone living in the United States?

The freedoms of speech, expression, religion, petition, and assembly and the right to bear arms

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

The United States

What promises do you make when you become a United States citizen?

To obey the laws of the United States, give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution, serve the nation if needed, and be loyal to the U.S.

At what age to citizens gain the right to vote?

18

What is the due date for federal income taxes?

April 15

At what age are all men required to register for the Selective Service

18

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Checks and balances and Separation of Powers

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

President

Who makes national laws?

Congress

What are the two Houses of Congress?

The House of Representatives and the Senate

How many United States Senators are there?

100

U.S. Senators serve for how many years?

6

How many members of the House of Representatives are there?

435

Members of the House of Representatives serve for how many years?

2

Who is represented by a U.S. Senator?

All the people within their state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

The number of Representatives is based upon the state's population

A President is elected for how many years?

4

In what month is the President elected?

November

Who is the current President of the United States?

Joseph Biden

Who is the current Vice President of the United States?

Kamala Harris

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

Vice President

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

Speaker of the House

Who is Commander in Chief of the military?

President

Who can sign a bill into law?

President

Who can veto a bill?

President

What is the main job of the President's Cabinet?

They advise the President

What is the main job of the judicial branch?

Review laws to determine if they are Constitutional

What is the highest court in the United States?

U.S. Supreme Court

How many people currently serve on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

John Roberts

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

Democratic and Republican

The current president is a member of which political party?

Democrat

What is the name of the current speaker of the House of Representatives?

Kevin McCarthy

Who is the current Governor of Alabama?

Kay Ivey

What is the current capital Alabama

Montgomery

For what reasons did the colonists come to America?

freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, escape persecution

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Native Americans

Which group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

Africans

For what reasons did the colonists fight the British?

taxation without representation, quartering of troops, self-government

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

July 4, 1776

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitution was written

In which year was the Constitutional Convention?

1787

The Federalist papers supported the passage of the Constitution. Who were the writers?

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Who is known as the "Father of Our Country"?

George Washington

Who was the first President of the United States?

George Washington

Which territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Louisiana Territory

Name the U.S. war between the Northern and the Southern states.

Civil War

Who wrote the Gettysburg Address?

Abraham Lincoln

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed slaves in the Confederate states that seceded from the Union

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

She fought for women's rights

What wars were fought by the United States in the 1900s?

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

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Who was President during World War I?

Woodrow Wilson

What countries did the United States fight in World War II?

Japan, Germany, and Italy

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general in which war?

World War II

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 is Martin Luther King, Jr. most known for?

Pushing for equality for all Americans in the Civil Rights Movement

What major event happened on September 11, 2001

A terrorist attack on the United States

What are the two longest rivers in the United States?

Mississippi and Missouri

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

What states borders Canada?

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

What states borders Mexico?

Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico

What is the capital of the United States?

Washington, D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

New York

How many stripes are on the U.S. flag?

13

How many stars are on the U.S. flag?

50

What is the name of the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner

When is Independence Day?

July 4

In what type of government do the citizens hold all of the power?

democracy

What amendment gave women the right to vote?

19th

What amendment gives the people the right to bear arms?

2nd

When powers are divided between a central government and local governments it is referred to as ___________________.

Federalism

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress

Who must approve Presidential appointments and treaties?

Senate

What vote is needed by Congress to override a President's veto?

2/3

What is the length of term for a federal judge or justice?

Life

What is a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states called?

treaty

What four amendments expanded suffrage in the U.S.?

(26) 18 and older can vote, (24) banned the poll tax, (19) Women can vote, and (15) A male citizen of any race can vote

Who was the leader of Germany during World War II?

Hitler

What was the first U.S. war to be shown on television?

Vietnam

How many continents are there in the world?

7