Citizenship Test
1.
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
2.
What does the Constitution do?
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans
3.The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
4.
What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
5.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the constitution?
the Bill of Rights
6.
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government
7.
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
twenty-seven (27)
8.
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)
9.
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
10.
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11.
What is the economic system in the United States?*
capitalist economy
market economy
12.
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.
B: System of Government
13.
Name
one
branch or part of the government.*
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
14.
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances
separation of powers
15.
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
16.
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature
17.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18.
How many U.S. Senators are there?
one hundred (100)
19.
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
six (6)
21.
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
four hundred thirty-five (435)
22.
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
two (2)
24.
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
25.
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because of) the state’s population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people
26.
We elect a President for how many years?
four (4)
27.
In what month do we vote for President?*
November
30.
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Vice President
31.
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Speaker of the House
32.
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
the President
33.
Who signs bills to become laws?
the President
34.
Who vetoes bills?
the President
35.
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
advises the President
36.
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
37.
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38.
What is the highest court in the United States?
the Supreme Court
41.
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
42.
Under our Constitution, 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
45.
What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48.
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one
of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A male citizen of any race (can vote).
49.
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
serve on a jury
vote in a federal election
50.
Name one right only for United States citizens.
vote in a federal election
run for federal office
51.
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
freedom of expression
freedom of speech
freedom of assembly
freedom to petition the government
freedom of religion
the right to bear arms
52.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
53.
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 United States
serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States