civics test Flashcards
(113 cards)
1
Q
When was the Constitution written?
A
1787
2
Q
What does the Constitution do?
A
- Sets up the government,
- defines the government,
- protects the basic rights of people living in the US.
3
Q
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
A
The founding fathers wrote the Constitution.
4
Q
What is an amendment?
A
A change to the constitution.
An addition to the constitution.
5
Q
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A
27 amendments.
6
Q
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
A
“We the people”.
7
Q
Name one branch or part of the government.
A
- Legislative branch
- Executive branch
- Judicial branch
8
Q
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
A
- House of Representatives
- Senate
9
Q
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A
The president of the United States.
10
Q
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
A
Advises the President.
11
Q
What is the highest court in the U.S.?
A
The Supreme Court.
12
Q
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
A
- Checks and balances.
- Separation of powers.
13
Q
Who makes federal laws?
A
Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).
14
Q
What does the judicial branch do?
A
- Reviews laws.
- Explains laws.
- Resolves disputes.
- Decides if a law goes against the Constitution.
15
Q
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
A
- Create an army
- Declare war
- Make treaties
- Print money
16
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
17
Q
Who is the Governor of your state now?
A
Gavin Newsom.
18
Q
What is the “rule of law”?
A
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, no one is above the law and everyone must follow the law.
19
Q
What is the supreme law of the land?
A
The Constitution.
20
Q
What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
A
The Bill of Rights.
21
Q
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A
435 voting members.
22
Q
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
A
States that have more people have more representatives.
23
Q
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A
Every two years.
24
Q
Name one right only for United States citizens.
A
- Vote in a federal election.
- Run for federal office.
25
Name your U.S. Representative.
Scott H. Peters.
26
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Mike Johnson.
27
How many U.S. Senators are there?
100 U.S. Senators.
28
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
All the people of a state.
29
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Six years.
30
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
* Alex Padilla
* Adam B. Schiff
31
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President.
32
Who vetoes bills?
The President.
33
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
* Secretary of Defense
* Secretary of Education
* Secretary of Homeland Security
* Secretary of State
* Attorney General
* Vice President
* etc…
34
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President.
35
In what month do we vote for President?
November.
36
We elect a President for how many years?
Four years.
37
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
* Democratic Party
* Republican Party
38
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Donald J. Trump.
39
What is the political party of the President now?
Republican Party.
40
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes the President?
The Vice President.
41
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
JD Vance.
42
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House.
43
What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court.
44
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Nine justices.
45
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.
46
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
* James Madison
* Alexander Hamilton
* John Jay
* Publius
47
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory.
48
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
* Cherokee
* Navajo
* Apache
* Inuit
49
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
The Mexican-American War.
50
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776.
51
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Announced our independence from Great Britain.
52
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4th.
53
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
54
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
* Life
* Liberty
* Pursuit of happiness
55
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
* Being a U.S. diplomat.
* first postmaster general of the U.S.
* started the first free libraries
* oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
56
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans.
57
What is one reason colonists came to America?
* economic opportunity
* political liberty
* religious freedom
* escape persecution
58
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
People from Africa.
59
Why did the colonists fight the British?
* because of high taxes
* because they didn’t have a self-government
* because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
60
Who was the first President?
George Washington.
61
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
62
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
One star for each state.
63
Name one U.S. territory.
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* American Samoa
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Guam
64
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Atlantic Ocean.
65
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific Ocean.
66
Name one state that borders Canada.
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Vermont
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Montana
• Idaho
• Washington
• Alaska
67
Name one state that borders Mexico.
• California
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Texas
68
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
* Mississippi River
* Missouri River
69
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
George Washington.
70
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
* be loyal to the United States
* serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
* serve (do important work for) the nation (if
needed)
71
There were 13 original states. Name three.
* New Hampshire
* Massachusetts
* Rhode Island
* Connecticut
* New York
* New Jersey
* Pennsylvania
* Delaware
* Maryland
* Virginia
* North Carolina
* South Carolina
* Georgia
72
Who is known as the 'Father of Our Country'?
George Washington
73
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory
## Footnote
This purchase significantly expanded the territory of the United States.
74
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
## Footnote
Other examples include Navajo, Apache, and Inuit.
75
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
The Mexican-American War
## Footnote
Other examples include the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.
76
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
The Atlantic Ocean
77
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
The Pacific Ocean
78
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
* Slavery
* Economic reasons
* States’ rights
79
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Fought for civil rights and women’s rights
## Footnote
She agreed with Frederick Douglass that slavery should be illegal.
80
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
Led the United States during the Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
81
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves in most Southern states.
82
What is an amendment?
A change to the Constitution.
83
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
* World War I
* World War II
* Korean War
* Vietnam War
* Gulf War
84
Name two national U.S. holidays.
* New Year’s Day
* Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
* Presidents’ Day
* Memorial Day
* Juneteenth
* Independence Day
* Labor Day
* Columbus Day
* Veterans Day
* Thanksgiving
* Christmas
85
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson.
86
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt.
87
What is the economic system in the United States?
A capitalist economy
## Footnote
It is also sometimes called a market economy.
88
What is one power of the federal government under the Constitution?
The power to declare war.
89
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, and Italy.
90
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
The spread of communism.
91
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II.
92
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights Movement.
93
What did Martin Luther King, Jr., do?
* Fought for civil rights
* Worked for equality for all Americans
94
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States.
95
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor.
96
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
The 13 original colonies.
97
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Each star represents a state.
98
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The flag and the United States.
99
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner.
100
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Announced America’s independence from Britain.
101
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4.
102
Who makes federal laws?
The U.S. Congress.
103
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
* Speech
* Religion
* Assembly
* Press
* Petition the government
104
What is freedom of Religion?
You can practice any religion or not practice a religion.
105
What is the capital of your state?
Sacramento
106
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
* Citizens 18 and older can vote.
107
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
* Serve on a jury
* Vote in a federal election
108
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
* Freedom of religion
* Freedom of speech
* Freedom of assembly
* Freedom to petition the government
* the right to bear arms
109
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 and older
110
What are two ways Americans can participate in their democracy?
* vote
* join a political party
* 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
111
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15
112
When must all men register for Selective Service?
* at 18
* between 18 and 26
113
Name the war between the North and the South.
The Civil War.
