What is the biggest law in the country?
The Constitution of the United States
What does the Constitution do?
It installs the government, defines the powers of government, defines the branches of government, and protects the rights of the people.
The idea of self-government is found in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words?
we the People
What is a change?
A modification or addition to the statutes
What do we call the first ten amendments?
Declaration of Independence
What is a First Amendment right or freedom?*
Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, right of assembly, right to petition the government
How many amendments are there?
Twenty Seven (27) Amendments.
What did the Declaration of Independence?
We announce/declare our independence from Great Britain. This means that the United States is free of Great Britain.
What are the two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
What is religious freedom?
They can practice any religion or not practice any religion.
What is the Economic System of the United States?
A capitalist economy. Also known as free market economy.
What is the rule of law"?
No one is above the law. Everyone must obey the law, including the government and leaders.
Name a branch or part of the government
The three branches of the State are: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The parts of the government can be: The President, Congress, the Supreme Court.
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
The separation of powers between powers. Checks and balances are offered.
Who is responsible for the EXECUTIVE branch?
president
Who makes the federal laws?
Congress. Also known as the national or United States legislature. Composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies
What are the two parts of the United States Congress?
The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
How many United States Senators are there?
one hundred 100). 2 for each state.
Who is now one of your state's senators?
Go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/, search for your state, and your senator's name should be there.
How many voting members does the Chamber of Deputies have?
four hundred thirty-five (435)
How old do we elect a United States representative?
of (2).
Name your US representative
Go to https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and enter your ZIP code. The name of the representative must appear.
Who makes a U.S. Senator?
All the people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than others?
The population of the state. Some states have more people, which determines the number of representatives a state can have.
How many years do we elect a president?
Four (4) years.
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/administratoin
When the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The vice president.
When the president and vice president can't serve, who becomes president?
The speaker of the house
Who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces?
president
Who signs the laws that become laws?
president
Who vetoes the bills?
president
What is the Office of the President doing?
They advise the president.
What are the two positions of the round cabinet?
Vice President, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Housing and Development Urbano, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
What does the judiciary do?
Decide whether a law violates the Constitution. They do this by reviewing the laws, explaining the laws, and resolving disagreements.
What is the supreme court of the United States?
the supreme court
How many judges are there in the Federal Supreme Court?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the answer
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the answer
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government, what is a federal power?
The federal government can print money, declare war, raise an army, and make treaties.
Under our Constitution, some powers are vested in the states. What is a state power?
State governments can provide schooling and education, provide housing, provide security, issue driver's licenses, and authorize zoning and land use. State governments are responsible for police and fire services, for example.
Who is the governor of your state now?
Go to https://www.usa.gov/state-governor
What is the capital of your state?
Google is.
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
democratic and republican
What is the president's political party now?
What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Go to https://www.speaker.gov/about
There are four amendments to the constitution regarding who can vote. Describe one of them.
Every citizen can vote. This includes citizens 18 and older, women and men, and citizens of all races. You do not have to pay taxes or penalties to vote.
What is the sole responsibility of US citizens?
serving on a jury
Mention a right reserved for United States citizens only.
You can vote and run for office.
What two rights does someone living in the United States have?
Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, right to bear arms, right to due process and any other right not mentioned in the Constitution.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The flag and the United States
What promise do you make when you become a US citizen?
Renounce allegiance to other countries. Uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States. Obey US law service in the US military
How old do citizens have to be to vote for president?
eighteen (18) years or older
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
You can vote, join a political party, help with a campaign, join a civic group, join a community group, give your opinion on an issue to an elected official, call senators and representatives, publicly support or oppose an issue or politics, running for office, writing for a newspaper.
When is the last day you can file federal income tax forms?
April 15
When must all men report to selection service?
Between 18 and 26 years
What is one reason the colonists came to America?
For freedom, political freedom, religious freedom, economic opportunity and to avoid persecution.
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans, formerly known as American Indians.
What group of people were taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans and peoples of Africa.
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Due to unrepresented taxes, the British Army remained in their homes and had no self-government.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence approved?
July 4th, 1776
There were 13 original states. Name three.
Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Hampshire
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The founding fathers wrote the constitution.
When was the constitution written?
1787
The Federalist Papers support the United States Constitution. Quote one of the authors.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay y Publius.
What is Benjamin Franklin famous for?
As an American diplomat, as the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, as the first Postmaster General of the United States, as the author of "Poor Richard's Almanac" and as the founder of 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?
Louisiana
Name a war fought by the United States in the 19th century.
War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War and Spanish-American War
Name the US war between North and South
Civil war.
Name one problem that led to the civil war.
Slavery, economic disparities and state rights.
What was something important that Abraham Lincoln did?
Abraham Lincoln: Freed the slaves, saved the Union, and led the United States during the Civil War.
What caused the Emancipation Proclamation?
Free the slaves.
Was it Susan B. Anthony's hat getan?
He fought for civil rights and women's rights.
Name a war the United States fought in the 20th century.
World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War
Who was the president in World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight with in World War II?
Japan, Germany and Italy
Before becoming president, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
Second World War
What was the main concern of the United States during the Cold War?
Communism.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights movement.
What did Martin Luther King Jr. did he do?
He fought for human rights. She worked for equal rights for all Americans.
What major event took place on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States. They hijacked planes and directed them towards the Twin Towers.
Name a tribe of American Indians in the United States.
Apache, Blackfeet, Cayuga, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Choctaw, Creek, Crow, Hopi, Huron, Inupiat, Lakota, Mohawk, Mohegan, Navajo, Oneida, Onondaga, Pueblo, Seminole, Seneca, Shawnee, Sioux, Teton, Tuscarora. You can find a full list of tribes at bia.gov.
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Either the Missouri River or the Mississippi River
What ocean is on the west coast of the United States?
the Pacific Ocean
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States?
The Atlantic ocean
Name a US territory
Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands are territories of the United States.
Name a state that borders Canada.
Ohio, Idaho, Maine, Alaska, Vermont, New York, Montana, Michigan, Washington, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire are states bordering Canada.
Name a country that borders Mexico.
California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas border Mexico.
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington DC.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
On the Island of Liberty. In New York Harbor.
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because the stripes represent the original 13 colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because there are 50 states and each star represents a state.
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th.
Name three American holidays.
Labor Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, President's Day, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.
What is Independence Day?
A public holiday to celebrate the independence of the United States from Great Britain. Also known as America's birthday.
What is Remembrance Day?
A party in honor of soldiers who died in military service.
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday that honors members of the US Armed Forces and honors individuals who have served in the US Armed Forces.
What is the form of government in the United States?
The United States government can be viewed as: republic, federal constitutional republic, and representative democracy.
It is important that all men between the ages of 18 and 25 register with the Selective Service. Can you give a reason for this?
Three reasons. It's required by law, it's a man's civic duty to protect the country from him, it makes conscription just when it's needed.
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "We the people." What does "We the People" mean?
It is an example of a social construction. It means: self-government, popular sovereignty, consent of the governed and the people must govern themselves.
How are changes made to the United States Constitution?
changes
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
The fundamental rights of Americans living in the United States.
How many changes does the United States Constitution have?
twenty seven (27)
What powers of government does the President of the United States exercise?
the executive department
What is the national anthem called?
the stars and stripes
The nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum". What does that mean?
"We all become one." or "One among many"
Give an example of an American innovation.
Plane, light bulb, car, skyscraper, assembly line, integrated circuit, moon landing
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says that the United States is free from British control, states that all human beings are created equal, identifies inherent rights, and identifies individual liberties.
What founding document said that the American colonies were free of Great Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States
Equality, freedom, social construction, natural rights, limited government and self-government.
There are three branches of government. Because?
Separate forces through checks and balances so that one party does not become too powerful.
What part of the federal government makes the laws?
Congress, Head of the Legislature.
What is the term of a United States Senator?
Six (6) years
Why is the electoral college important?
She decides who becomes president of the United States. It is also a compromise between the popular vote and the election of the president by Congress.
How many seats does the Federal Supreme Court have?
Nine seats. The people who occupy the seats are called judges.
What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?
Ensure that powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states, and if not to the states, then to the people.
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens of the United States