Civics-Final
Flashcard 1:
Q: What is a U.S. citizen?
A: A citizen is a member of a state with rights and duties. People can become citizens by birth, naturalization, or being born in U.S. territories.
Flashcard 2:
Q: What are the duties of a U.S. citizen?
A: Duties include obeying laws, paying taxes, defending the nation, and serving in court.
Flashcard 3:
Q: What rights do U.S. citizens have?
A: Rights include government protection and freedoms.
Flashcard 4:
Q: How has U.S. citizenship evolved over time?
A: Citizenship expanded to include African Americans, women, and Native Americans through key amendments.
Flashcard 5:
Q: What is the process of becoming a naturalized citizen?
A: It involves completing an application, attending an interview, passing a civics exam, and taking an oath of allegiance.
Flashcard 6:
Q: What can lead to the loss of U.S. citizenship?
A: Loss of citizenship can occur through expatriation, denaturalization, or committing serious crimes like treason.
Flashcard 7:
Q: What are the categories of foreign-born residents in the U.S.?
A: Legal aliens (permanent or temporary residents) and illegal aliens.
Flashcard 8:
Q: What are the duties and responsibilities of U.S. citizens?
A: Duties are required actions, like paying taxes and defending the nation. Responsibilities are encouraged actions, such as staying informed and voting.
Flashcard 9:
Q: What are the main functions of government?
A: Government maintains order, provides security, offers public services, and guides the community.
Flashcard 10:
Q: What types of government exist?
A: Democracy, constitutional monarchy, and authoritarian regimes (dictatorships, monarchies).
Flashcard 11:
Q: What is the federal system of government?
A: Power is divided between national, state, and local governments in the U.S.
Flashcard 12:
Q: What is the Mayflower Compact?
A: The first agreement for self-government in America, signed by the Pilgrims in 1620.
Flashcard 13:
Q: What was the House of Burgesses?
A: The first representative assembly in America, established in Virginia in 1619.
Flashcard 14:
Q: What were the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and Townshend Act?
A: British-imposed taxes that created unrest and contributed to the desire for independence.
Flashcard 15:
Q: What was Shay's Rebellion?
A: A protest by farmers in 1786-87 that exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and highlighted the need for a stronger government.
Flashcard 16:
Q: What was the significance of the Declaration of Independence?
A: It justified the colonies' break from Britain, listing grievances and asserting the right to self-governance.
Flashcard 17:
Q: What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
A: The Articles lacked power to tax, regulate trade, and enforce laws, and had no executive or judicial branches.
Flashcard 18:
Q: What is the Magna Carta?
A: A 1215 document that limited the power of the English king and established fundamental rights like due process.
Flashcard 19:
Q: What is the English Bill of Rights?
A: A 1689 document that further limited the monarchy’s powers and established civil liberties, like freedom of speech.
Flashcard 20:
Q: What was the Glorious Revolution?
A: The 1688 overthrow of King James II, leading to a constitutional monarchy in England.
Flashcard 21:
Q: What was the Boston Tea Party?
A: A 1773 protest against British taxation that led to the Intolerable Acts.
Flashcard 22:
Q: What is a legislature?
A: The body responsible for creating laws.
Flashcard 23:
Q: What is mercantilism?
A: An economic theory focused on accumulating wealth through trade.
Flashcard 24:
Q: What is popular sovereignty?
A: The principle that the government’s power comes from the people.
Flashcard 25:
Q: What is federalism?
A: The sharing of power between national and state governments.
Chapter 3: The Constitution and Bill of Rights
Lesson 1: Foundations of Government
Q: What is a Constitution?
A: A detailed, written plan for government.
Q: What is a bicameral legislature?
A: A legislature divided into two parts or houses.
Q: What does the Bill of Rights guarantee?
A: A list of rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens.
Q: What is a Confederation?
A: A group of individual state governments united for a common purpose.
Q: What did the Northwest Ordinance do?
A: Set up a government for the Northwest Territory and provided a plan for admitting new states.
Q: What was Shays's Rebellion?
A: An uprising in Massachusetts against heavy state taxes.
Lesson 2: The Constitutional Convention
Q: What was the Constitutional Convention?
A: The meeting in 1787 where delegates from the states created a new plan of government.
Q: What was the Virginia Plan?
A: A proposal for a strong national government with a president, courts, and a two-house Congress.
Q: What was the New Jersey Plan?
A: A proposal to keep the Confederation's one-house Congress with each state having one vote.
Q: What is the Great Compromise?
A: The agreement to create a two-house Congress, with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House.
Q: What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A: Agreement to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation.
Q: What is the Electoral College?
A: The group that selects the president and vice president.
Lesson 3: Structure of the Constitution
Q: What are the main parts of the Constitution?
A: Preamble, 7 Articles, and 27 Amendments.
Q: What is the purpose of Article I?
A: It outlines legislative powers and responsibilities of Congress.
Q: What does Article II establish?
A: The executive branch led by the President.
Q: What does Article III do?
A: It sets up the judicial branch and the Supreme Court.
Q: How is the amendment process done?
A: Proposed by 2/3 of Congress or a national convention and ratified by 3/4 of states.
Lesson 4: Principles of Government
Q: What is Popular Sovereignty?
A: The power of government comes from the consent of the people.
Q: What does Limited Government and Rule of Law mean?
A: The government can only do what the people allow, and the law applies to everyone.
Q: What is Separation of Powers?
A: The division of government into three branches with distinct powers.
Q: What are Checks and Balances?
A: Each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.
Q: What is Federalism?
A: Power is shared between national and state governments.
Chapter 4: The Constitution and Bill of Rights
Lesson 1: Guaranteeing Civil Liberties
Q: What freedoms does the First Amendment protect?
A: Religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Q: What is the Establishment Clause?
A: Prohibits establishing an official religion.
Q: What is the Free Exercise Clause?
A: Protects the right to practice one's religion.
Q: What is censorship?
A: Banning or restricting materials.
Lesson 2: Rights of the Accused
Q: What do the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments protect?
A: The rights of those accused of crimes.
Q: What does the Fourth Amendment require?
A: Probable cause is required for searches.
Q: What does the Fifth Amendment protect?
A: Against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.
Q: What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?
A: Excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.
Lesson 3: Civil War Amendments
Q: What did the 13th Amendment do?
A: Abolished slavery.
Q: What did the 14th Amendment define?
A: Citizenship and guaranteed equal protection.
Q: What did the 15th Amendment prohibit?
A: Denying the right to vote based on race.
Lesson 4: Civil Rights Movement
Q: What was the Civil Rights Movement?
A: A movement that challenged segregation and discrimination, leading to landmark legislation.
Q: What was a key event in the Civil Rights Movement?
A: The Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Q: What legislation resulted from the Civil Rights Movement?
A: The Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Chapter 6: The President and Vice President
1. Understanding the Role and Requirements
Q: What are the requirements to become President?
A: At least 35 years old, a native-born citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
Q: What are some significant milestones in U.S. presidential demographics?
A: John F. Kennedy (First Roman Catholic president), Barack Obama (First African American president).
2. Electing a President
Q: How are U.S. presidents elected?
A: Through the Electoral College system, with 270 electoral votes needed to win.
Q: What happens if no president receives a majority of votes?
A: The House of Representatives selects the president.
3. Term of Office
Q: How long is a U.S. presidential term?
A: 4 years, with a limit of two terms (or 10 years if serving mid-term).
4. Salary and Benefits
Q: What is the annual salary of the U.S. President?
A: $400,000, along with additional funds for personal and travel expenses.
5. The Vice President
Q: What is the role of the Vice President?
A: Presides over the Senate, casts tie-breaking votes, and can succeed the president if necessary.
6. Presidential Succession
Q: What is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947?
A: Establishes the order of succession if the president cannot fulfill their duties.
7. Presidential Powers
Q: What are some specific powers of the President?
A: Vetoing bills, calling Congress into special session, making treaties, and appointing officials.
8. The President’s Cabinet
Q: What is the President’s Cabinet?
A: Composed of heads of 15 departments who advise the president and implement policies.
Elections - Chapters 8 and 9 (Political Parties, Voting, and Elections)
1. Political Parties
Q: What is a political party?
A: A group of people with similar political beliefs and goals that seeks to influence government policy by getting candidates elected.
2. Voting Rights and Elections
Q: Who is eligible to vote in the U.S.?
A: U.S. citizens aged 18 and older who meet state residency requirements.
Q: What is the purpose of elections?
A: To choose representatives and decide on laws and policies.