Citizenship

What is the supreme law of the land?

the Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans

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

We the People

What is an amendment?

a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)

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

the Bill of Rights

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

announced our independence (from Great Britain)
declared our independence (from Great Britain)
said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

life
liberty
pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

What is the economic system in the United States?

▪ capitalist economy
▪ market economy

What is the "rule of law"?

Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.

Name one branch or part of the government.

▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial

Name one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

checks and balances
separation of powers

Who is in charge of the executive branch

the president

Who makes federal laws?

Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

Senate and House of Representatives

How many U.S Senators are there?

100

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

6

Who is one of your state's U.S Senators now?

Elizabeth Warren
Ed Markey

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435

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

2

Name your U.S. Representative.

Richard Neal

What does a U.S. Senator represent?

all people of the state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

\- because of states population

\- because they have more people

\- because some states have more people

We elect a President for how many years?

4 years

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?

the Vice President

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

the 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 the President

What are two Cabinet level positions?

▪ Secretary of Agriculture

▪ Secretary of Commerce

▪ Secretary of Defense

▪ Secretary of Education

▪ Secretary of Energy

▪ Secretary of Health and Human Services

▪ Secretary of Homeland Security

▪ Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

▪ Secretary of the Interior

▪ Secretary of Labor

▪ Secretary of State

▪ Secretary of Transportation

▪ Secretary of the Treasury

▪ Secretary of Veterans Affairs

▪ Attorney General

▪ Vice President

What does the Judicial branch do?

reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What is the highest court in the United States?

Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9 justices

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties

Under our Consitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

provide schooling and education
provide protection (police)
provide safety (fire departments)
give a driver's license
approve zoning and land use

Who is the governor of your state now?

Maura Healey

What is the capital of your state?

Boston

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

Democratic and Republican

What is the political party of the President now?

Democratic Party

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Kevin McCarthy

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

Citizens 18 and older can vote
you don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
Any citizen can vote (Women/Men can vote)
A male citizen of any race (can vote)

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

serve on a jury
vote in a federal election

Name one right only for United States citizens.

vote in a federal election
run for federal office

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

freedom of expression
freedom of speech
freedom of speech
freedom of assembly
freedom to petition the government
freedom of religion
the right to bear arms

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

the United States
the Flag

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

give up loyalty to other countries
defend the constitution and laws of the United States
obey the laws of the Unite States
serve in the U.S military (if needed)
serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

18 or older

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪ vote
▪ join a political party
▪ help with a campaign
▪ join a civic group
▪ join a community group
▪ give an elected official your opinion on an issue
▪ call Senators and Representatives
▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
▪ run for office
▪ write to a newspaper

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

April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

at age 18
between 18 and 26

What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

American Indians
Native Americans

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

Africans
people from Africa

Why did the colonist fight the British?

\- because of high taxes (taxation w/o representation)

\- because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)

\- because they didn't have self-government

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

There were 13 original states. Name three.

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

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

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

When was the Constitution written?

1787

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S Constitution. Name one of the writers.

\- James Madison

\-Alexander Hamilton

\- John Jay

\-Publius

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

▪ U.S. diplomat
▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
▪ first Postmaster General of the United States
▪ writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
▪ started the first free libraries

Who is 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
Louisiana

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

\- War of 1812

\- Mexican American War

\- Civil War

\- Spanish American War

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

▪ the Civil War
▪ the War between the States

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery
▪ economic reasons
▪ states' rights

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

\- freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)

\- saved (or preserved) the Union

\- led the United States during the Civil War

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

▪ freed the slaves
▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy
▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states
▪ freed slaves in most Southern states

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

▪ fought for women's rights
▪ fought for civil rights

Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s.

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

Who was President during World War I?

Woodrow Wilson

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

Franklin Roosevelt

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

Japan, Germany, and Italy

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

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 did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

fought for civil rights
worked for equality for all Americans

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

Terrorists attacked the United States

Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

▪ Cherokee
▪ Navajo
▪ Sioux
▪ Chippewa

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

\- Missouri River

\- Mississippi River

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

Pacific Ocean

What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?

Atlantic Ocean

Name one U.S. territory.

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

Name on state that borders Canada

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

Name one state that borders Mexico.

California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas

What is the capital of the United States?

Washington D.C.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

New York (Harbor)
Liberty Island

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

because there were 13 original colonies
because the stripes represent the original colonies

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

because there is one star for each state
because each star represents a state
because there are 50 states

What is the name of the national anthem?

▪ The Star Spangled Banner

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

July 4

Name two national U.S. holidays.

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