What is the form of government of the United States?
Representative democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?
(U.S.) Constitution
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Protects the rights of the people
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
Self-government
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
(The basic) rights of Americans
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says America is free from British control.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality and Liberty
The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism
What is the rule of law?
No one is above the law.
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Federalist Papers
There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
What part of the federal government writes laws?
(U.S.) Congress
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House (of Representatives)
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws
How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100)
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years
Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
Answers will vary. [Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates]
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion
How many senators does each state have?
Two (2)
Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation (for small states)
Name your U.S. representative.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Mike Johnson
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their (congressional) district
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their (congressional) district
Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
(Because of) the state's population
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
Four (4) years
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
(Because of) the 22nd Amendment
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Donald Trump
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
JD Vance
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President (of the United States)
Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President (of the United States)
Who signs bills to become laws?
Who vetoes bills?
Who appoints federal judges?
The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
Cabinet
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President (of the United States)
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president.
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court
What does the judicial branch do?
Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
What is the highest court in the United States?
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5)
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
(For) life
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent (of politics)
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John G. Roberts Jr.
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money
Name one power that is only for the states.
Give a driver's license
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
Who is the governor of your state now?
What is the capital of your state?
Answers will vary by state.
There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens of the United States
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States
Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries and defend the (U.S.) Constitution
How can people become United States citizens?
Naturalize
What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote and join a civic group
What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Vote
Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Freedom
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians
What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
Africans
What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
Taxation without representation
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Bunker Hill
There were 13 original states. Name five.
Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Georgia
What founding document was written in 1787?
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
Why were the Federalist Papers important?
They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Inventor
George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
First president of the United States
Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
"Father of the Constitution"
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana Territory
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Civil War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War
The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Freed the slaves
What U.S. war ended slavery?
What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
14th Amendment
When did all men get the right to vote?
After the Civil War
Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War II
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
When did all women get the right to vote?
1920
What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
When did the Great Depression start?
The Great Crash (1929)
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
Why did the United States enter World War II?
(Bombing of) Pearl Harbor
Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
Who was the United States' main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism
Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
Fought for civil rights
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
War in Afghanistan
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee
Name one example of an American innovation.
Airplane
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York (Harbor)
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
(Because there were) 13 original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
(Because there is) one star for each state
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean?
Out of many, one
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
Name three national U.S. holidays.
Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, and Memorial Day
What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military
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