Civics Exam Preparation Guide

Civics exam prep What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution. What does the constitution do? Sets up the government, defines the government, and protects basic rights of Americans. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? We the people. What is an amendment? A change(to the constitution) and an addition(to the constitution). What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? The Bill of Rights. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? Speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition the government. How many amendments does the Constitution have? 27. What did the Declaration of Independence do? Announced our independence from Great Britain. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What is freedom of religion? You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. What is the economic system in the United States? Capitalist economy, market economy. What is the "rule of law"? No one is above the law, everyone must follow the law. Name one branch or part of the government. Congress, legislative, president, executive, the courts, or judicial. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Checks and balances, separation of powers. Who is in charge of the executive branch? The president. Who makes federal laws? Congress, senate and house, legislature. What are the two parts of the U.S. congress? The senate and house of representatives. How many U.S. senators are there? 100. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? 6. Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now? Rand Paul. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? 435. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? 2. Name your U.S. Representative. James Comer, Brett Guthrie, John Yarmuth, Thomas Massie, Harold Rogers, Garland Barr. Who does a U.S. senator represent? All people of the state. Why do some states have more representatives than other states? Because of the states population. We elect a president for how many years? 4. In what month do we vote for president? November. What is the name of the president of the U.S now? Donald J. Trump. What is the name of the vice president of the U.S. now? Michael. R. Pence. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? The vice president. If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president? The speaker of the house. Who is the commander in chief of the military? The president. Who signs bills to become laws? The president. Who vetoes bills? The president. What does the president's cabinet do? Advises the president. What are two cabinet-level positions? Secretary of commerce, secretary of agriculture. What does the judicial branch do? Reviews the laws, decides if the law is constitutional or not. What is the highest court in the U.S.? The Supreme Court. How many justices are on the supreme court? 9. Who is the chief justice of the U.S. now? John Roberts. 1/3 Under our constitution, some powers belong to the federal govTo print money, to declare war, to create an army, to make treaties. ernment. What is one power of the federal government? Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? Provide schooling and education, provide protection, provide safety. Who is the governor of your state now? Matt Bevin. What is the capital of your state? Frankfort. What are the two major political parties in the U.S.? Democratic and Republican. What is the political party of the president now? Republican party. What is the name of the speaker of the house of representatives now? Paul D. Ryan. There are 4 amendments to the constitution about who can vote. Citizens 18 and older can vote, you don't have to pay to vote, any Describe one of them. citizen can vote, a male citizen of any race can vote. What is one responsibility that is only for U.S citizens? Serve on a jury and vote in a federal election. Name one right only for the U.S. citizens? Vote in a federal election and run for federal office. What are two rights of everyone living in the U.S.? Freedom of religion and the right to bear arms. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? The U.S and the flag. What is one promise you make when you become a U.S citizen? Give up loyalty to other countries. How old do citizens have to be to vote for president? 18. What are two ways americans can participate in their democracy? Vote, join a political party. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? April 15. When must all men register for the selective service? Between 18 and 26 years old. What is one reason colonists came to america? Freedom. Who lived in america before the Europeans arrived? American Indians, native Americans. What group of people was taken to america and sold as slaves? Africans. Why did the colonists fight the British? Because of high taxes(taxation without representation). Who wrote the Declaration of independence? Thomas Jefferson. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776. 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. What happened at the Constitutional Convention? The Constitution was written. When was the Constitution written? 1787. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? U.S. diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General of the U.S. Who is the "Father of Our Country"? George Washington. Who was the first president? George Washington. What territory did the U.S. buy from France in 1803? The Louisiana Territory. Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1800s. War of 1812, Mexican-American war, Civil war, Spanish-American War. Name the U.S war between the North and the South. The Civil War. Name one problem that led to the Civil War. Slavery, economic reasons, states' rights. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? Emancipation proclamation, freed the slaves, saved the Union, led the U.S. during the Civil War. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Freed the slaves. 2/3 What did Susan B. Anthony do? Fought for women and civil rights. Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s. World War 1, World War 11, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War. Who was the president during World War 1? Woodrow Wilson. Who was the president during the Great Depression and World War 11? Franklin Roosevelt. Who did the U.S. fight in World War 11? Japan, Germany, and Italy. Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. What was was he in? World War 11 During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the U.S.? Communism. What movement tried to end racial discrimination? The Civil rights movement. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? Fought for civil rights, worked for equality for all Americans. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the U.S.? Terrorists attacked the U.S. Name one American Indian tribe in the U.S. Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Pueblo, Iroquois. Name one of the two longest rivers in the U.S. Missouri River and Mississippi River. What ocean is on the West Coast of the U.S.? Pacific Ocean. What ocean is on the East Coast of the U.S.? Atlantic Ocean. Name one U.S. territory. Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam. Name one state that borders Canada. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, Alaska. Name one state that borders Mexico. California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. What is the capital of the U.S.? 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. When do we celebrate Independence Day? July 4. Name two national U.S. holidays. New Year's Day, President's day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. 3/3