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American Government

A: Principles of American Democracy

  1. What is the supreme law of the land?
  1. What is the supreme law of the land?
  • the Constitution

  1. What does the Constitution do?
  1. What does the Constitution do?
  • sets up the government
  • defines the government
  • protects basic rights of Americans

  1. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
  1. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
  • We the People

  1. What is an amendment?
  1. What is an amendment?
  • a change (to the Constitution)
  • an addition (to the Constitution)

  1. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
  1. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
  • the Bill of Rights

  1. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
  1. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
  • speech
  • religion
  • assembly
  • press
  • petition the government

  1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
  1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
  • twenty-seven (27)

  1. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
  1. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
  • announced our independence (from Great Britain)
  • declared our independence (from Great Britain)
  • said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

  1. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
  1. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
  • life
  • liberty
  • pursuit of happiness

  1. What is freedom of religion?
  1. What is freedom of religion?
  • You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

  1. What is the economic system in the United States?
  1. What is the economic system in the United States?
  • capitalist economy
  • market economy

  1. What is the “rule of law”?
  1. What is the “rule of law”?
  • Everyone must follow the law.
  • Leaders must obey the law.
  • Government must obey the law.
  • No one is above the law.

B: System of Government

  1. Name one branch or part of the government.
  1. Name one branch or part of the government.
  • Congress
  • legislative
  • President
  • executive
  • the courts
  • judicial

  1. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
  1. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
  • checks and balances
  • separation of powers

  1. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
  1. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
  • the President

  1. Who makes federal laws?
  1. Who makes federal laws?
  • Congress
  • Senate and House (of Representatives)
  • (U.S. or national) legislature

  1. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
  1. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
  • the Senate and House (of Representatives)

  1. How many U.S. Senators are there?
  1. How many U.S. Senators are there?
  • one hundred (100)

  1. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
  1. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
  • six (6)

  1. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
  1. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
  • Answers will vary: see US Senate.
  • In NY state in 2015: Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
  • District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.

  1. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
  1. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
  • four hundred thirty-five (435)

  1. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
  1. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
  • two (2)

  1. Name your U.S. Representative.
  1. Name your U.S. Representative.
  • Answers will vary: see US House.
  • In NYC for zip code 10014 in 2015: Jerrold Nadler
  • Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.

  1. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
  1. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
  • all people of the state

  1. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
  1. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
  • (because of) the state’s population
  • (because) they have more people
  • (because) some states have more people

  1. We elect a President for how many years?
  1. We elect a President for how many years?
  • four (4)

  1. In what month do we vote for President?
  1. In what month do we vote for President?
  • November

  1. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
  1. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
  • Barack Obama
  • Obama

  1. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
  1. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
  • Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
  • Joe Biden
  • Biden

  1. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
  1. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
  • the Vice President

  1. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
  1. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
  • the Speaker of the House

  1. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
  1. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
  • the President

  1. Who signs bills to become laws?
  1. Who signs bills to become laws?
  • the President

  1. Who vetoes bills?
  1. Who vetoes bills?
  • the President

  1. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
  1. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
  • advises the President

  1. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
  1. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
  • Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior , Labor, State, Transportation, the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Attorney General, Vice President

  1. What does the judicial branch do?
  1. What does the judicial branch do?
  • reviews laws
  • explains laws
  • resolves disputes (disagreements)
  • decides if a law goes against the Constitution

  1. What is the highest court in the United States?
  1. What is the highest court in the United States?
  • the Supreme Court

  1. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
  1. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
  • nine (9)

  1. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
  1. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
  • John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

  1. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
  1. 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

  1. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
  1. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
  • provide schooling and education
  • provide protection (police)
  • provide safety (fire departments)
  • give a driver’s license
  • approve zoning and land use

  1. Who is the Governor of your state now?
  1. Who is the Governor of your state now?
  • Answers will vary: see State Government.
  • In NY state in 2015: Andrew Cuomo
  • District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.

  1. What is the capital of your state?
  1. What is the capital of your state?
  • Answers will vary: see US Capitals
  • For NY state: Albany
  • District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.

  1. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
  1. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
  • Democratic and Republican

  1. What is the political party of the President now?
  1. What is the political party of the President now?
  • Democratic (Party)

  1. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
  1. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
  • (John) Boehner

C: Rights and Responsibilities

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

  1. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
  1. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
  • serve on a jury
  • vote in a federal election

  1. Name one right only for United States citizens.
  1. Name one right only for United States citizens.
  • vote in a federal election
  • run for federal office

  1. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
  1. 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 worship
  • the right to bear arms

  1. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
  1. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
  • the United States
  • the flag

  1. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
  1. 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
  • serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
  • serve (do important work for) the nation
  • be loyal to the United States

  1. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
  1. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
  • eighteen (18) and older

  1. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
  1. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
  • 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

  1. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
  1. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
  • April 15

  1. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
  1. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
  • at age eighteen (18)
  • between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

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Based on USCIS Study Materials for the Civics Test and a CSS flipping animation posted on David Walsh's blog. Maintained by Gleb Chuvpilo. Thanks for being here! =)