Civics Test Flashcards
(100 cards)
1
Q
What is the supreme law of the land?
A
The Constitution
2
Q
What does the Constitution do?
A
Sets up the government
Defines the government
Protects basic rights of Americans
3
Q
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words?
A
We The People
4
Q
What is an amendment?
A
a change/addition (to the Constitution)
5
Q
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
A
the Bill of Rights
6
Q
What is ONE right or freedom from the First Amendment?
A
- speech
- religion
- assembly
- press
- petition the government
7
Q
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A
27
8
Q
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A
Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
9
Q
What are TWO rights in the Declaration of Independence?
A
- Life
- Liberty
- Pursuit of happiness
10
Q
What is freedom of religion?
A
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11
Q
What is the economic system in the United States?
A
capitalist economy
market economy
12
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.
13
Q
Name one branch or part of the government.
A
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
President
14
Q
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
A
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
15
Q
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A
The President
16
Q
Who makes federal laws?
A
Senate and House (of Representatives)
Congress
U.S. Legislature
17
Q
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18
Q
How many U.S. Senators are there?
A
100
19
Q
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A
6
20
Q
Who is ONE of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
A
Benjamin L. Cardin
Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.
21
Q
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A
435
22
Q
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A
2
23
Q
Name your U.S. Representative.
A
Steny Hoyer (D)
24
Q
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A
All people of the state
25
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because) some states have more people
26
We elect a President for how many years?
4
27
In what month do we vote for President?
November
28
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Joe Biden
29
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
30
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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 Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Vice President
```
37
What does the judicial branch do?
- Reviews laws
- Explains laws
- Resolves disagreements
- Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38
What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
39
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
40
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Chief Justice John Roberts
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)
- give a driver’s license
- approve zoning and land use
43
Who is the Governor of your state now?
Larry Hogan
44
What is the capital of your state?
Annapolis
45
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
46
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic
47
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi
48
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them.
- Any citizen can vote. (women & men can vote)
- Citizens 18 & older (can vote)
- You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
- A male citizen of any race (can vote)
49
What is ONE responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
- Vote in a federal election
| - Serve on a jury
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?
- be loyal to the United States
- give up loyalty to other countries
- defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S.
- obey the laws of the United States
- serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
- serve the nation (if needed)
54
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 and older
55
What are TWO ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
- vote
- join a political party
- run for office
- help with a campaign
- join a civic group
- join a community group
- call Senators and Representatives
- write to a newspaper
56
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15
57
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
- at age 18
| - between 18 and 26
58
What is ONE reason colonists came to America?
```
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
```
59
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
| American Indians
60
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
61
Why did the colonists fight the British?
- because of high taxes
- because the British army stayed in their houses
- because they didn’t have self-government
62
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
63
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
64
There were 13 original states. Name THREE
Maryland
Virginia
New York
```
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
```
65
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
66
When was the Constitution written?
1787
67
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
68
What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
- U.S. diplomat
- oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
- started the first free libraries
69
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
George Washington
70
Who was the first President?
George Washington
71
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
the Louisiana Territory
72
Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Spanish-American War
Mexican-American War
Civil War
War of 1812
73
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
74
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
Slavery
75
What was ONE important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
- freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
- saved the Union
- led the United States during the Civil War
76
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves
77
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
- fought for women’s rights
| - fought for civil rights
78
Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1900s
```
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
```
79
Who was President during World War I?
(Woodrow) Wilson
80
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
81
Who did the United States fight in World War II
Japan, Germany, and Italy
82
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
83
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
84
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
Civil Rights (movement)
85
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
- fought for civil rights
| - worked for equality for all Americans
86
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States.
87
Name ONE American Indian tribe in the United States.
Pueblo
Navajo
Apache
88
Name ONE of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Missouri (River)
| Mississippi (River)
89
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific Ocean
90
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Atlantic Ocean
91
Name ONE U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Guam
92
Name ONE state that borders Canada.
Maine
Alaska
New York
```
New Hampshire
Vermont
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
```
93
Name ONE state that borders Mexico.
- California
- Texas
- Arizona
- New Mexico
94
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
95
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
- New York (Harbor)
| - Liberty Island
96
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
The stripes represents
97
Why does the flag have 50 stars
because there are 50 states
98
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
99
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
100
Name TWO national U.S. holidays.
New Year’s Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
```
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
```
