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What is the supreme law of the land?

The Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

Organize government and defines its powers

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

We the people

How is the Constitution changed?

Amendments

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

Bill of Rights

Name five freedoms from the First Amendment?

speech, assembly, religion, press, petition

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Announced our independence from Great Britain

What are three rights in the Declaration of Independence?

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

The government may not tell you what religion to be and may not punish you for the religion you choose or for not practicing any religion

What two phrases are used for the economic system in the United States?

Capitalism, market economy

What is the "rule of law"?

Everyone must obey the law, including those in position of power in the government

Name the three branches of government

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

What two phrases are used to describe the system whereby one branch of government prevents another branch from becoming too powerful?

Checks and balances

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

The President

What makes federal laws?

A federal law requires the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President. All three must be involved.

What are the two parts of the United States Congress?

House of Representatives, Senate

How many United States Senators are there?

100

We elect a United States Senator for how many years?

6

Who are Texas's senators?

John Cornyn, Ted Cruz

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435

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

2

Name your U.S representative.

Van Taylor ( Murphy) ( you need to find your own depending on where you live)

Whom does a U.S. Senator represent?

All the people in his or her state

Why do some states have more representatives than other states?

Larger population

We elect a President for how many years?

4

In what month do we vote for president?

November

What is the name of the president of the United States now?

Joe Biden

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

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 becomes President?

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 him

Currently how many are in the president's cabinet? Name 5 cabinet level positions.

15. Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans' Affairs, Labor, Attorney General

What does the judicial branch do?

Review laws (decides constitutionality of laws), interprets the Constitution, resolves disputes

What is the highest court in the United States?

The Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the chief of justice in the United States?

John Roberts

Under our constitution, four powers belong only to the federal government, not state governments. What are they?

coin money, make treaties, raise an army, declare war

Under our constitution some powers belong to the states. Name two.

Provide police, provide safety (fire dept.), provide education, give a driver's license, approve land use (zoning)

Who is the governor of our state?

Greg Abbott

What is the capital of our state?

Austin

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

Democrats, Republicans

What is the political party of the President now?

democrat

What is the name and political party of the speaker of the house now?

Nancy Pelosi (She is stepping down because beginning in January the Republicans will have the majority in the House. However, she will still be speaker when you take your final exam.)

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. What are they?

No poll taxes, a male citizen of any race , any citizen (men and women) at least 18 year olds

What are two responsibilities that are only for United States citizens?

serve on a jury, vote

What are four rights only for United States citizens?

Apply for a federal job, vote, run for office, carry a U.S. passport

What are six rights of everyone living in the United States?

Expression, assembly, petition, worship, speech, bear arms

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

The flag and the U.S.

What promises do those who become United States citizens have to make?

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

How old do citizens have to be to vote?

18

What are two ways Americans can participate in their democracy?

Vote, run for office, he'll with campaign, join a community group, contact senators or representatives, there are MANY ways

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

April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

All makes 18-25 must be registered with Selective Service

What is one reason colonists came to America?

To have freedom of religion

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?

To gain independence- England was levying high taxes, quartering soldiers in their homes, the colonists had no representation

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

There were 13 original states. Name them.

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

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitution was written

When was the Constitution written?

1787

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name the three authors.

James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton

What are the federalist papers and where were they published?

Newspaper articles published in New York to convince colonists to ratify the Constitution

What are two things for which Benjamin Franklin is famous?

First Postmaster General of U.S., began first free libraries, oldest member of Constitutional Convention, writer of Poor Richard's Almanac, U.S. diplomat

Who is called the "Father of Our Country"?

George Washington

Who was the first President?

George Washington

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

the Louisiana Territory

Name United States fought four wars in the 1800s. What were they?

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

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

the Civil War

Name the top five reasons for the Civil War.

The southern economy was based on agrarian interests which required slavery; there was conflict over whether territories accepted as new states would allow slavery; the election of Lincoln pushed the South over the edge; the South believed they had the right to secede (states' rights).

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

Emancipation proclamation- freed slaves in states which had seceded

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

freed slaves in the Confederate states

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

fought for women's rights

Name five wars the United States was involved in during the 1900s.

WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War

Who was President during World War I?

Woodrow Wilson

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

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

Germany, Japan, Italy

Before he was President, Dwight Eisenhower was a general in what war?

WWII

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

spread of communism

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

civil rights movement

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

Lead civil rights movement using civil disobedience

Wha major even happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

Attacked by terrorists on US soil

Name five American Indian tribes in the United States.

Cherokee, Chippewa, Apache, Blackfeet, Arawak, Huron, Crow, Inu8it, Navajo, Choctaw, Iroquois, Seminole, Shawnee, Oneida, Teton, Sioux, Pueblo, Creek, Cheyenne, Mohegan, Lakota, Hopi

Name the two longest rivers in the United States.

Missouri, Mississippi

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

Pacific

What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?

Atlantic

Name five United States territories.

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

How many states border Canada?

13

Name five states which border Canada.

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

Name the four states which border Mexico.

California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas

What is the capital of the United States?

Washington D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty and where did it come from?

New York harbor, gift from France commemorating centennial of signing of Declaration of Independence

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

13 original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

because there are 50 states

What is the name of the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner