Studied by 3 people
a mandatory state test on US laws and history
what is the Supreme law of the land?
The constitution
What does the constitution do?
Defines fundamental US laws
The idea of self government is in the first three words of the constitution, which are:
“we the people”
What is an amendment?
a change or addition to the constitution
what do we call the first ten amendments of the constitution?
the bill of rights
What is ONE right or freedom from the first amendment
freedom of Press, assembly, religion, and speech
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence
Life and Liberty
What is freedom of religion?
the ability to support or believe in any religion you choose (or none)
What’s the Rule of Law?
No one is above the law
Name ONE branch or part of the government?
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive
what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and Ballances
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
Who makes federal laws?
congress
what are the two parts of the US congress
The house of representatives, and the senate
How many US Senators are there?
100, two per state
US Senators serve for __ years
6
The house of representatives has __ members
435
Representatives serve __ year terms
2
Who does a US Senator represent?
Their state and the people of their state
Why do some states have more representation than others?
Its a population based system
Presidents serve __ year terms
4
We vote for a president in the month:
November
Who serves as president if the president is out of office
the vice president
Who is the commander in chief of the military?
the president
Who signs bills to become laws?
the president
Who Veto’s bills?
the president
What does the presidents cabinet do?
Support and advise him in their Departments
What are two cabinet positions
the Secretary of treasury, and Secretary of Defense
What does the Judicial branch do?
they interpret laws for the cases they judge
What is the highest court in the United States?
the Supreme court of the United States
there are __ justices on the Supreme Court
9
What is one federal government power?
ability to declare war
What is one power of the state?
School
what is the capitol of MN?
St. Paul
What are the two dominant political parties of the US
Democrats, and Republicans
whats one amendment involving voting policies?
the 19th amendment for Women’s right to vote (1920)
Whats a US citizen responsibility for citizens?
voting in elections
Whats a US citizen right?
freedom of speech
What are two rights for every living being in US
freedom of opinion, and right to work and to education
whats a promise you make when you become a US citizen
Support and defend US constitution
You have to be __ or older to vote
18
what are two ways for Americans to participate in their democracy?
by voting, or contacting law officials to state opinions
When must all men register for the selective service?
within 30 days of hi’s 18th birthday
whats one reason colonists came to America?
they wanted independence and freedom from Great Britain (whom had many taxes and a king)
Who lived in America before Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
what group of people were taken to America and sold as slaves?
West and Central Africans
What was one problem that led to the Civil War?
Slavery
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
became a leader for women’s suffrage
what movement tried to end racial discrimination?
the civil rights movement
whats one American Indian tribe in MN
Ojibwe tribe
Note 
Flashcard (26)