Civics Questions

What is the form of government of the United States?

Republic

What is the supreme law of the land?

U.S. Constitution

Name one thing the U.S. constitution does

Protects the rights of the people

The U.S. constitution starts with the words “We the people”. What does “We the people” mean?

Self-government.

How are changes made to the U.S. constitution?

Amendments

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

The basic rights of Americans

How many amendments does the U.S. constitution have?

27

Why is the declaration of independence important?

It says America is free from British control.

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

Declaration of Independence.

Name 2 important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Equality and Liberty

The words “Life, Liberty, and pursuit of happiness” are in what founding document?

Declaration of Independence

What is the economic system of the United States?

Capitalism

What is the rule of law?

Everyone must follow the law.

Many documents influenced the U.S. constitution. Name one.

Federalist Papers

There are three branches of government. Why?

Checks and balances

Name the three branches of government.

Legislative, executive, and judicial.

The president of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

Executive branch.

What part of the federal government writes laws?

• congress

• Legislative branch

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

Senate and House of Representatives.

Name one power of the U.S. congress.

Writes Laws

How many U.S. senators are there?

100

How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

6 years

Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?

• Mike Crapo

• Jim Risch

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

435

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

2 years

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

To more closely follow public opinion.

How many senators does each state have?

2

Why does each state have two senators?

Equal representation (for small states)

Name your U.S. representative.

Russ Fulcher

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

Mike Johnson

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

People of their state

Who elects U.S. senators?

Citizens from the state

Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

People in their district

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

Citizens from their district

Some states have more representatives than others states. Why?

Because of the state’s population

The president of the United States is elected for how many years?

4 years

The president of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

To keep the president from becoming too powerful.

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

Donald Trump

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

J.D. Vance

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

The Vice President

Name one power of the President

Vetoes bills

Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

The President

Who signs bills to become laws?

The president

Who vetoes bills?

The president

Who appoints federal judges?

The president

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

The president

What does the president’s Cabinet do?

Advises the President

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

• Secretary of Education

• Secretary of Labor

Why is the Electoral College important?

It decides who is elected president.

What is one part of the judicial branch?

Supreme Court

What does the judicial branch do?

Reviews laws

What is the highest court in the United States?

Supreme Court

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

9

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

5

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

For life

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

To be independent (of politics)

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

John Roberts

Name one power that is only for the federal government.

Declare war

Name one power that is only for the states

Give a driver’s license

What is the purpose of the 10th ammendment?

It states that the powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

Who is the governor of your state now?

Brad Little

What is the capital of your state now?

Boise

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

Citizens 18 and older can vote.

Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?

U.S. Citizens

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

• Freedom of expression

• Freedom of religion

• Freedom of speech

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

The flag

Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.

Give up loyalty to other countries

How can people become United States citizens?

Naturalize

What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

• Vote

• Join a political party

What is one way Americans can serve their country?

Serve in the military

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Required by law

It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.

Required by law

The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.

Freedom

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Native Americans

What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

Africans

What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

American Revolution

Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

High taxes

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.

Declaration of Independence

There were 13 orignal states. Name 5

• New Hampshire

• Massachussetts

• Rhode Island

• Connecticut

• New York

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

• Delaware

• Maryland

• Virginia

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Georgia

What founding document was written in 1787?

U.S. Constitution

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

• James Madison

• Alexander Hamilton

Why were the Fereralist Papers important?

They supported passing the U.S. Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

• U.S Diplomat

• Helped write the decalaration of independence

George Washington is famous for many things. Name one

First president of the United States

Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Writer of the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

One of the writers of the Federalist Papers

Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

One of the writers of the Federalist Papers

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

Lousiana

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

• Mexican-American war

• Civil war

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

The Civil war

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

Sherman´s March

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

Freed the slaves

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed the Slaves

What U.S. war ended slavery?

The Civil war

What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?

14th Amendment

When did all men get the right to vote?

After the Civil war

Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.

Susan B. Anthony

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

• World War l

• World War ll