The 100 Civics History And Government Questions

Question 1

What is the supreme law of the land?

Answer 1

The Constitution

Question 2

What does the constitution do?

Answer 2

Sets up the government
Defines the government
Protects basic rights of Americans

Question 3

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

Answer 3

We the people

Question 4

What is an amendment?

Answer 4

A change to the constitution
An addition to the constitution

Question 5

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

Answer 5

The Bill of Rights

Question 6

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Answer 6

Speech
Religion
assembly
Press
Petition the government

Question 7

How many amendments does the constitution have?

Answer 7

Twenty seven (27)

Question 8

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Answer 8

Announced our independence (from Great Britain)
Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
Said that the United States is free (From Great Britain)

Question 9

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 9

Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness

Question 10

What is freedom of religion?

Answer 10

You can practice any religion or not practice a religion

Question 11

What is the economic system in the United States?

Answer 11

Capitalist economy
Market economy

Question 12

What is the rule of law?

Answer 12

everyone must follow the law
Leaders must obey the law
Government must obey the law
No one is above the law

Question 13

Name one branch or part of the government

Answer 13

Congress
Legislative
President
Executive
The courts
Judicial

Question 14

What stops one branch from becoming too powerful?

Answer 14

Checks and balances
Separation of powers

Question 15

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Answer 15

The President

Question 16

Who makes the federal laws?

Answer 16

Congress
Senate and House of Representatives
Us or national legislature

Question 17

What are the two parts of the US Congress?

Answer 17

the Senate and House of Representatives

Question 18

How many U.S senators are there?

Answer 18

One hundred (100)

Question 19

We elect a US senator for how many years?

Answer 19

Six (6)

Question 20

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

Answer 20

John Cronyn
Ted Cruz

Question 21

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer 21

435

Question 22

We elect a US representative, for how many years?

Answer 22

2

Question 23

Name your US representative

Answer 23

Jasmine Crockett

Question 24

Who does a US Senator represent?

Answer 24

All people of the state

Question 25

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

Answer 25

Because of the states population Because they have more people Because some states have more people 

Question 26

We elect a president for how many years?

Answer 26

4

Question 27

In what month do we vote for president?

Answer 27

November

Question 28

What is the name of the President of the United States now?

Answer 28

President Joe Biden

Question 29

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

Answer 29

Kamala Harris

Question 30

If a president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

Answer 30

The vice president

Question 31

If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve who becomes president?

Answer 31

The speaker of the House

Question 32

Who is the Commander Chief of the military?

Answer 32

The President

Question 33

Who signs bills to become laws?

Answer 33

The President

Question 34

Who vetos bills?

Answer 34

The president

Question 35

What does the President's cabinet do?

Answer 35

Advised the President

Question 36

What are two cabinet-level positions?

Answer 36

Secretary of agriculture Secretary of defense Secretary of education Secretary of energy Secretary of state Secretary of labor Secretary of the interior Secretary of homeland security

Question 37

What does the Judicial branch do?

Answer 37

Reviews laws Explains laws Resolves disputes Decides if a law goes against the constitution

Question 38

What is the highest court in the United States?

Answer 38

The Supreme Court

Question 39

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Answer 39

nine (9)

Question 40

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Answer 40

John Roberts

Question 41

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Who is the Governor of your state now?

Answer 43

Greg Abbott

Question 44

What is the capital of your state?

Answer 44

Austin

Question 45

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

Answer 45

Democratic and Republican

Question 46

What is the political party of the President now?

Answer 46

democratic party

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Mike Johnson

Question 48

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

Answer 48

Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote). You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) A male citizen of any race (can vote).

Question 49

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

Answer 49

serve on a jury vote in a federal election

Question 50

Name one right only for United States citizens

Answer 50

vote in a federal election ▪ run for federal office

Question 51

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

Answer 51

▪ freedom of expression ▪ freedom of speech ▪ freedom of assembly ▪ freedom to petition the government ▪ freedom of religion ▪ the right to bear arms

Question 52

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

Answer 52

▪ the United States ▪ the flag

Question 53

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Answer 53

▪ give up loyalty to other countries ▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States ▪ obey the laws of the United States ▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed) ▪ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed) ▪ be loyal to the United States

Question 54

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

Answer 54

eighteen (18) and older

Question 55

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy

Answer 55

▪ vote ▪ join a political party

Question 56

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

Answer 56

April 15

Question 57

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

Answer 57

at age eighteen (18) between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

Question 58

What is one reason colonists came to America?

Answer 58

▪ freedom ▪ political liberty ▪ religious freedom ▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution

Question 59

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Answer 59

American Indians Native Americans

Question 60

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

Answer 60

Africans people from Africa

Question 61

Why did the colonists fight the British?

Answer 61

because of high taxes (taxation without representation) because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) because they didn’t have self-government

Question 62

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 62

Thomas Jefferson

Question 63

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

Answer 63

July 4, 1776

Question 64

There were 13 original states. Name three.

Answer 64

▪ New Hampshire ▪ Massachusetts ▪ Rhode Island ▪ Connecticut ▪ New York ▪ New Jersey ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Delaware ▪ Maryland ▪ Virginia ▪ North Carolina ▪ South Carolina ▪ Georgia

Question 65

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

Answer 65

▪ The Constitution was written. ▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution

Question 66

When was the Constitution written?

Answer 66

1787

Question 67

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

Answer 67

Alexander Hamilton John Jay

Question 68

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

Answer 68

▪ U.S. diplomat ▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention ▪ first Postmaster General of the United States ▪ writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac” ▪ started the first free libraries

Question 69

Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

Answer 69

George Washington

Question 70

Who was the first President?*

Answer 70

George Washington

Question 71

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Answer 71

the Louisiana Territory Louisiana

Question 72

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

Answer 72

the War of 1812 Mexican-American War Civil War Spanish-American War

Question 73

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South

Answer 73

the Civil War

Question 74

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

Answer 74

Slavery economic reasons states' rights

Question 75

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

Answer 75

freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) saved (or preserved) the Union led the United States during the Civil War

Question 76

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Answer 76

▪ freed the slaves ▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy ▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states ▪ freed slaves in most Southern states

Question 77

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Answer 77

fought for women’s rights fought for civil rights

Question 78

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

Answer 78

World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War (Persian) Gulf War

Question 79

Who was President during World War I?

Answer 79

(Woodrow) Wilson

Question 80

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

Answer 80

(Franklin) Roosevelt

Question 81

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

Answer 81

japan, Germany and Italy