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civic questions > american govt > Flashcards

american govt Flashcards

1
Q

what is the supreme law of the land?

A

the Constitution

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2
Q

what does the Constitution do?

A
  • set up the government
  • defines the government
  • protects basic rights of Americans
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3
Q

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

A

We the People

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4
Q

what is an amendment?

A
  • a change or addition to the Constitution
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5
Q

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

A

the Bill of Rights

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6
Q

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

A 
speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government
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7
Q

how many amendments does the Constitution have?

A

27

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8
Q

what did the Declaration of Independence do?

A
  • announced (declared) our independence from Great Britain
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9
Q

what are the two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

A

life
liberty
pursuit of happiness

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10
Q

what is the freedom of religion?

A

you can practice (or not practice) any religion

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11
Q

name one branch or part of the government?

A 
congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
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12
Q

who is in charge of the executive branch?

A

the President

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13
Q

who makes federal laws?

A

Congress
Senate and House of Representatives
US or national legislature

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14
Q

what are the two parts of the US Congress?

A

the Senate and House of Representatives

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15
Q

How many US Senators are there?

A

100

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16
Q

we elect a US Senator for how many years?

A

6 yrs

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17
Q

Who is one of your state’s US senators now?

A

Kristen Gillibrand

Charles Schumer

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18
Q

the House of Representatives has how many voting members?

A

435

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19
Q

We elect a US Representative for how many years?

A

2 yrs

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20
Q

Name your US Representative

A

Nydia Velázquez

New York’s 7th congressional district since Jan 3, 2013 (next election in 2016)

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21
Q

who does a US Senator represent?

A

all people of the state

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22
Q

why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

A

some states have more people

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House for a two-year term. Representatives are also called congressmen/congresswomen.

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23
Q

we elect a President for how many years?

A

4 yrs

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24
Q

in what month do we vote for the President?

A

November

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25
Q

What is the name of the President of the US now?

A

Barack Obama

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26
Q

what is the name of the Vice President?

A

Joe Biden

27
Q

if president can no longer serve, who becomes President?

A

Vice President

28
Q

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

A

the Speaker of the House

29
Q

who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

A

the President

30
Q

who signs the bills to become laws?

A

the President

31
Q

who vetoes the bills?

A

the President

32
Q

what does the President’s Cabinet do?

A

advises the President

33
Q

what are the 2 Cabinet-level positions?

A 
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
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 Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
34
Q

what does the judicial branch do?

A

reviews, explains laws
resolves disputes
decides if a law goes against the Constitution

35
Q

what is the highest court in the US?

A

the Supreme Court

36
Q

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

A

9 justices

37
Q

Who is the Chief of Justice of the US now?

A

John Roberts

38
Q

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government.

what is 1 power of the federal government?

A

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

39
Q

under our constitution, some powers belong to the states.

what is one power of the states?

A
  • provide schooling and education
  • provide protection (police)
  • provide safety (fire departments)
  • give a driver’s license
  • approve zoning and land use
40
Q

who is the Governor of your state now?

A

Andrew Cuomo

41
Q

what is the economic system in the US?

A

capitalist economy

market economy

42
Q

what is the “rule of law”?

A
  • everyone must follow the law
  • leaders must obey the law
  • government must obey the law
  • no one is above the law
43
Q

what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

A

checks and balances

separation of powers

44
Q

what is the capital of your state?

A

Albany

45
Q

what are the 2 major political parties in the US?

A

Democratic and Republican

46
Q

what is the political party of the President now?

A

Democratic party

47
Q

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

A

John Boehner

48
Q

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe 1 of them?

A
  • citizens 18 or older
  • you don’t have to pay a poll tax to vote
  • any citizen can vote
  • a male citizen of any race can vote
49
Q

what is 1 responsibility that is only for US citizens?

A
  • serve on a jury

- vote in federal election

50
Q

name 1 right only for US citizens?

A
  • vote in a federal election

- run for federal office

51
Q

what are 2 rights of everyone living in US?

A
  • freedom of expression
  • freedom of speech
  • freedom of assembly
  • freedom of petition the government
  • freedom of worship
  • freedom of to bear arms
52
Q

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

A
  • the United States

- the flag

53
Q

what is 1 promise you make when you become a US citizen?

A
  • give up loyalty to other countries
  • defend the Constitution and laws of US
  • obey the laws of US
  • serve in US military (if needed)
  • serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
  • be loyal to the United States
54
Q

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

A

18 and older

55
Q

what re 2 ways that American can participate in their democracy?

A
  • 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
56
Q

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

A

April 15

57
Q

when must all men register for Selective Service?

A

18

between 18 and 26

58
Q

what is 1 reason colonist came to America?

A
  • freedom
  • political liberty
  • religious freedom
  • economic opportunity
  • practice their religion
  • escape persecution
59
Q

who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

A

American Indians

Native Americans

60
Q

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

A

Africans

people from Africa

61
Q

why did the colonist fight the British?

A
  • bc high taxes (taxation w/o representation)
  • bc of British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
  • bc they didn’t have self-govt
62
Q

when was Declaration of Independence adopted?

A

July 4, 1776

63
Q

There were 13 original states. Name 3.

A 
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Deleware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
64
Q

who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A

Thomas Jefferson

civic questions (1 decks)

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