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210 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Authority that acts on behalf of a group of people
government
Study of what it means to be an American citizen
Civics
A person who flees persecution in his or her homeland to seek safety in other nations
Refugee
Ideas that people hold dear and try to live by
Values
The study of characteristics of human populations
Demographics
MEmber of a nation
Citizen
Process by which an alien becomes a citizen
Naturalization
Born in the United States
Native-born
Citizen of another country who lives in the United States
Alien
The annual number of live births per 1,000 members of a population
Birth rate
Official count of the number of people living in the United States that is taken every 10 years
Census
Movement of large numbers of people from region to region
Migration
The annual number of deaths per 1,000 members of a population
Death Rate
A person who comes to the United States from another country to settle as a permanent resident
Immigrant
Limit placed on the number of immigrants that may enter the United States each year
Quota
Branch of government that includes the Supreme Court
Judicial
System in which government powers are carefully spelled out to prevent government from becoming
too powerful
Limited Government
Powers that are shared by the state and federal governments
Concurrent Powers
Power of the president to refuse to sign a bill
Veto
Branch of government that includes the Senate and the House of Representatives
Legislative
Government by consent of the governed
Popular Sovereignty
Leaders of the executive departments who also act as advisers to the president
Cabinet
Distribution of political powers among the branches of government
Separation of Powers
Powers set aside by the Constitution for the states or for the people
Reserved Powers
Beginning of the Constitution, which describes its purposes
Preamble
System in which decisions made by more than half the people are accepted by all
Majority Rule
Powers the Constitution specifically gives to the federal government
Delegated Powers
To cancel an amendment with another amendment
Repeal
Branch of government responsible for carrying out the nation's laws
Executive Branch
Written change made to the Constitution
Amendment
Right to Vote
Suffrage
First 10 amendments to the Constitution, which set forth basic rights guaranteed to all Americans
Bill of Rights
Rights guaranteed to all US Citizens
Civil Rights
Principle that a person cannot be punished for a crime until the law has been applied fairly
Due Process of Law
Power of the government to take over private property for public use.
Imminent Domain
Amendment that discusses the right to bear arms
2nd
Testifying against oneself
Self Incrimination - 5th
Division between government and religion
Separation of Church and State
Limited by law to a certain amount per household
Rationed
Special tax that had to be paid in order to vote
Poll Tax
Amendment guaranteeing the right of African Americans to vote
15th
Amendment guaranteeing the right of women to vote
19th
Money or property an accused person gives a court to hold as a guarantee that he or she will appear
for trial
Bail
A citizen's responsibility to serve on a jury if called
Jury Duty
Policy requiring men to serve in the military
Draft
Person who presides over the House when it is in session
Speaker of the House
Combined meeting of both houses of Congress, sometimes called by the president
Joint Session
An act that betrays or endangers one's country
Treason
A lawmaking body of two houses
Bicameral Legislature
Section of the Constitution granting Congress the authority to extend its delegated powers
Elastic Clause
Process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party
Gerrymandering
Assistant to the floor leader in each house of Congress who tries to persuade party members to vote
for bills the party supports
Whip
Powers not specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution, but which are suggested to be
necessary to carry out its delegated powers
Implied Powers
To accuse an office holder of official misconduct
Impeach
Procedure for ending debate in the senate
Cloture
Proposed law being considered by a lawmaking body
Bill
A refusal by the president or a governor to sign a bill
Veto
Method of delaying action on a bill in the Senate by making long speeches
Filibuster
Formal disapproval of the actions of a member of Congress by the other members
Censure
Removal of a member of Congress for serious misconduct
Expulsion
Presidential action forgiving a person convicted of a crime
Pardon
Formal documents that allow U.S. citizens to travel abroad
Passports
Term for the order in which the office of the president is to be filled if it becomes vacant
Presidential Succession
Congressional limitation on the president's military powers
War Powers Act
Written agreements between nations
Treaties
A nation's plan for dealing with other nations of the world
Foreign Policy
Highest-ranking government officials who represent the United States abroad
Ambassadors
Head of the Department of Justice
Attorney General
The official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country
Embassy
President's power to postpone the carrying out of a prison sentence
Reprieve
Highest-ranking officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force who advise the president on military matters
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Agencies, departments, and People that makeup the executive branch of government
Bureaucracy
Title of most cabinet members
Secretary
Art of dealing with foreign governments
Diplomacy
U.S. government official who works in a foreign country to develop trade and to help Americans in
that country
Consul
Customary law that develops from judges' decisions and is followed in situations not covered by existing law
Common Law
Judges of the Supreme Court
Justices
Laws that define what acts are crimes
Criminal Law
Return a case to a lower court for a new trial
Remand
To ask a higher court to review a case
Appeal
Laws that refer to disputes between people
Civil LAw
Earlier court decisions that guides judges decisions in later cases
Precedent
Authority of a court to be the first court to hold trials in certain kinds of cases
Original Jurisdiction
Authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts
Appellate Jurisdiction
One of 12 judicial districts covered by a court of appeals
Circuit
Illegal behavior considered harmful to society
Crime
Written statement by the U.S. Supreme Court explaining its reasoning behind a particular decision
Opinion
Power of the Supreme Court to determine whether a law passed by Congress or a presidential action is constitutional
Judicial Review
The authority a court has to hear and decide a case
Jurisdiction
Law based on the Constitution and on Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution
Constitutional Law
The Pilgrims wrote the ____ ____ to establish a government based on the consent of the people.
Mayflower compact
The term ___ of ____ describes the three-way division of power in the federal government.
Separation of Powers
One goal of the Constitution is to provide for a better union of the states than existed under the ____.
Articles of Confederation
The ____ ____ of government interprets the nation's laws.
Judicial Branch
____ has power to pass laws over the President's Veto.
Congress
One goal of the Constitution is to provide for the common
defense
Raising funds through taxation and borrowing are examples of
concurrent powers
powers not specifically given to the federal government are known as
reserved powers
The ___ ____ is headed by the President of the United States of America.
executive branch
The System of ___ and ___ keeps any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
Checks and balances
lists the six major goals of the U.S. government.
Preamble
must be approved by three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution
Amendment
The first branch of government discussed in the Constitution is the
Legislative Branch
Traditions that are followed regularly by the government but seldom are made into laws are called the
Unwritten Constitution
The president's_____ was established through custom.
Cabinet
refers to the division between religion and government.
Separation of Church and State
Amendment granted women the right to vote
19th
To be formally accused of a crime, a person must be ____ by a grand jury
Indicted
The ___ Amendment to the Constitution outlawed slavery.
13th
The right of all Americans to a fair trial is an example of
Due Process
The "musts" of citizenship refer to
Duties
Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment is guaranteed by the ____ amendment
8th
The "shoulds" of citizenship refer to
Responsibilities
Amendment gives Americans the right to criticize government officials
1st
The right to attend public meetings is called the
Freedom of Assembly
The right to express one's ideas and opinions in writing is called
Freedom of Press
This Amendment gave 18-year olds the right to vote
26th
One responsibility of good citizenship is
being well informed
Women were granted the right to vote in
1920
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in
1791
The quota on immigration into the Unites States for 1995 and beyond is set at
675,000/year
A goodcitizen
a. votes only in important elections.
b. will not bother elected officials with his or her opinion on issues.
c. participates in community recycling efforts.
d. associates only with people who have a similar family background.
C
Which of the following is a quality of a good citizen?
a. uses natural resources wisely
b. attends the same church as one's neighbors
c. earns more money than one's parents
d. tries to convince others to believe and act in a certain way
A
The most important reason for studying civics is so that we can
a. understand immigration quotas.
b. learn to become responsible citizens.
c. interpret birthrates and death rates.
d. learn about the best places to live.
B
Which of the following is a quality of a good citizen?
a. never questions the government
b. disrespects the rights of others
c. respects and obeys the laws
d. ignores important issues
C
The rights and responsibilities of citizenship
a. have not changed over time.
b. differ from country to country.
c. are the same for any country's type of government.
d. are not important
B
All of the following freedoms are protected in the United States EXCEPT
a. the freedom to learn.
b. the freedom to choose a job or a career.
c. the freedom to disregard the rights of others.
d. the freedom to own a house.
C
The first Europeans who came to America in 1492
a. flourished in northern Canada.
b. developed settlements throughout the Midwest.
c. claimed lands for Spain.
d. were killed off by disease and war with American Indians.
C
The statement "to secure the blessings of liberty" is
a. listed in the Mayflower Compact.
b. one of the six goals of government stated in the Preamble.
c. the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence.
d. found in the Articles of Confederation.
B
One of the basic ideals of American government is that
a. government should be based on the consent of the governed.
b. majority rule can be overruled by presidential veto.
c. the Constitution should be easily amended.
d. the executive branch should be the most powerful branch.
A
One of the goals of the Constitution is
a. "to keep people off welfare."
b. "to form a more perfect union."
c. "to decide who can be a Supreme Court justice."
d. "to establish a separation of powers."
B
If the president vetoesa proposed law,
a. it can never become law. . .
b. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.
c. the proposed law is sent to state conventions for approval.
d. the Supreme Court has the power to pass the law anyway.
D
Which ideal of American government is expressed through federalism?
a. majority rule
b. limited government
c. checks and balances
d. popular sovereignty
B
If a California law disagrees with a federal law, the
a. California law must give way to the federal law.
b. California law will have to be approved by three-fourths of the citizens in the state.
c. California law must be approved by the governor of California.
d. California constitution must be amended to approve the law.
A
The U.S. Constitution contains
a. 10 amendments.
b. 15 amendments.
c. 27 amendments.
d. 57 amendments.
C
The federal government and the state governments share all of the following powers EXCEPT the
power to
a. establish courts.
b. borrow money.
c. punish lawbreakers.
d. coin money.
D
Which of the following is a concurrent power?
a. establishing post offices
b. declaring war
c. establishing courts
d. conducting elections
C
Which of the following is a reserved power?
a. collecting taxes
b. making marriage laws
c. coining and printing money
d. none of the above
B
The following are delegated powers EXCEPT:
a. regulating immigration
b. maintaining armed forces
c. establishing post offices
d. providing for public health and welfare
D
The system of checks and balances was created to

a. to ensure that no branch of the federal government becomes too powerful.
b. to ensure that the state governments do not become too powerful.
c. to manage the national treasury.
d. to give more power to the individual citizen.
A
Which of the following is NOT a power of the legislative branch?
a. interpreting the meaning of a law
b. passing laws
c. overriding presidential vetoes
d. approving appointments of federal court judges
A
The judicial branch can check the power of the executive branch by
a. ruling that actions taken by the president are unconstitutional.
b. impeaching the president.
c. vetoing bills.
d. refusing to approve appointments.
A
The executive branch was created in
a. Article I of the Constitution.
b. Article II of the Constitution.
c. Article III of the Constitution.
d. Article IV of the Constitution.
B
The three ways the Constitution and the government can be adapted to the changing needs of the country are by
a. popular vote, custom, and petition.
b. petition, amendment, and ratification.
c. amendment, interpretation, and elections.
d. amendment, interpretation, and custom.
D
An amendment must be ratified
a. by 38 of the states.
b. by all 50 states.
c. by the president.
d. by the Supreme Court.
A
The First Amendment guarantees
a. freedom of speech.
b. the right to bear arms.
c. freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
d. protection against self-incrimination.
A
Which of the following is not a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
a. freedom of petition
b. freedom of assembly
c. freedom to choose any religion or no religion at all
d. freedom from military service
D
The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to
a. eminent domain.
b. a fair trial.
c. bear arms.
d. receive a public education.
B
The Fourteenth Amendment granted full citizenship to
a. African Americans.
b. women.
c. American Indians.
d. Asian Americans.
A
The Seventeenth Amendment gave eligible voters the right to elect
a. the president.
b. members of the House of Representatives.
c. U.S. senators.
d. the vice president.
C
The Fourth Amendment guarantees
a. freedom of religion.
b. protection from unreasonable searches.
c. freedom of assembly.
d. freedom of speech.
B
Freedom of speech allows all of the following EXCEPT
a. criticizing the government.
b. delivering a speech in public.
c. criticizing the actions of a neighbor.
d. telling lies that may harm another person.
D
Extending voting rights to include more groups of citizens has made the United States
a. larger.
b. more totalitarian.
c. more democratic.
d. more expensive to govern.
C
President Abraham Lincoln banned slavery in the Confederate States with the
a. Nineteenth Amendment.
b. Great Compromise.
c. FifteenthAmendment.
d. Emancipation Proclamation.
D
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because
a. many Americans would not approve the Constitution without it.
b. the Great Compromise required it.
c. the Supreme Court decided it was necessary.
d. President George Washington requested it.
A
The reserved powers of the states were established by the
a. Third Amendment.
b. Sixth Amendment.
c. Tenth Amendment.
d. Fourteenth Amendment.
C
Separation of church and state means
a. there should be a strict division between religion and government.
b. each state should have its own central religion.
c. certain-guidelines are missing from the Constitution.
d. state leaders must not attend public churches.
A
Which of the following are protected by the First Amendment?
a. electronic media
b. books and other written works
c. television and radio broadcasts
d. all of the above
D
Which of the following is not protected under the First Amendment?
a. freedom of assembly
b. freedom of petition
c. freedom of speech
d. none of the above
D
No person can be denied life, liberty, or property without
a. an affidavit from a judge.
b. due process of law.
c. the consent of that person.
d. none of the above
B
When taking private property for public use, the government
a. 'is not required by law to provide justification.
b. is acting unconstitutionally.
c. must pay a fair price to the owner.
d. is breaking the law
C
If accused people cannot afford to hire a lawyer
a. they will be forced to represent themselves in court.
b. they must be careful not to incriminate themselves.
c. one will be provided by the courts.
d. there will be no trial.
C
The U.S. Constitution contains
a. 27 amendments.
b. 10 amendments.
c. 15 amendments.
d. 57 amendments
A
The Fourteenth Amendment
a. has been rewritten 11 times.
b. guarantees the right to bear arms.
c. prohibits state governments from interfering in the rights of U.S. citizens.
d. protects citizens against unfair actions by the federal government.
C
The Twenty-third Amendment gave the right to vote to
a. African American men.
b. women.
c. resident aliens.
d. residents of the District of Columbia.
D
Which of the following women was part of the American suffrage movement?
a. Carrie Chapman Catt
b. Lucretia Mott
c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
d. all of the above
D
Serving on a jury is
a. an optional responsibility of citizenship.
b. an important duty of citizenship.
c. not required for people who work.
d. used as punishment for traffic violations.
B
The Senate and the House of Representatives have passed different versions of an air pollution bill.
The kind of committee that would most likely be formed to work out a compromise would be a

a. standing committee.
b. select committee.
c. conference committee.
d. joint committee.
C
Congress is in session, and the president is given a bill to sign. He lets the bill sit on his desk without
action for 10 days. It can be concluded that
a. the bill has become law.
b. the bill has been vetoed.
c. the bill will have to go back to committee.
d. both houses of Congress will have to vote on the bill again.
A
After a bill is introduced, it is usually
a. sent to the president for approval.
b. discussed before a Committee of the Whole.
c. sent to a standing committee. d. sent to a joint conference committee.
C
The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, does not have the power to
a. pass laws regulating trade.
b. introduce appropriation bills. c. try impeached officials.
d. approve treaties.
B
A member of the Senate must
a. have been born in the United States.
b. be over 35 years old.
c. have first been a representative in the House.
d. have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years.
D
For a bill to become a law, the
a. president must sign it.
b. House and Senate both must pass it.
c. president must veto it.
d. Speaker of the House must approve it.
B
If a state's population decreases, its number of senators
a. decreases proportionately.
b. stays the same.
c. increases by one.
d. is sent to the Supreme Court for evaluation.
B
Members of the House of Representatives must be all of the following EXCEPT:
a. at least 25 years old .
b. a U.S. citizen for at least seven years.
c. a legal resident of the state they represent.
d. practicing lawyers.
D
Both houses of Congress have specific guidelines regarding
a. age of members.
b. citizenship of members.
c. legal residence of members.
d. all of the above
D
Each standing committee is divided into
a. joint committees.
b. subcommittees.
c. select committees.
d. investigatingcommittees.
B
Before a bill is approved
a. a committee holds hearings to gather information.
b. committee members may revise the bill.
c. the committee makes a recommendation for or against the bill.
d. all of the above
D
The qualifications for becoming president are set forth by
a. each political party.
b. the U.S. Constitution.
c. Congress.
d. members of the cabinet.
B
In the official role of chief executive, the president is responsible for
a. writing new laws.
b. approving treaties with other nations.
c. running the space program.
d. commanding the nation's armed forces.
D
The president suggests new programs and policies in an annual
a. Congressional Address.
b. State of the Union Address.
c. Judicial Address.
d. address to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
B
When visiting the leaders of other countries, the president is carrying out the role of chief
a. diplomat.
b. executive.
c. of state.
d. of staff.
C
As commander in chief of the armed forces, the president
a. leads forces into battle.
b. can send U.S. troops abroad. c. can suspend the War Powers Act.
d. can declare war on another nation.
B
To be elected president of the United States, a person must be at least
a. 25 years old.
b. 30 years old.
c. 35 years old.
d. 40 years old.
C
Under the Constitution
a. only Congress can declare war.
b. only the president can declare war.
c. the president and Congress must declare war together.
d. the president's cabinet must approve all war declarations.
A
Which of the following is NOT a power of the president?
a" proposing laws and programs to Congress
b. raising taxes
c. preparing the federal government's budget
d. appointing cabinet members, ambassadors, and federal judges
B
A presidential pardon requires the approval of
a. a majority vote from both the House and the Senate.
b. a majority vote from the House.
c. a majority vote from the Senate.
d. none of the above
D
A judge on the Supreme Court.is called a
a. marshal
b. justice.
c. federal magistrate
d. juror.
B
The law that prevails over all other laws in the United States is
a. constitutional law.
b. administrative law.
c. statutory law.
d. criminal law.
A
A judge who relies on a precedent set by another judge is making a ruling based on
a. judicial review.
b. administrative law
c. common law.
d. constitutional law.
C
People accused of crimes do not have the right
a. to ~ lawyer.
b. to a jury trial.
c. of appeal.
d. to refuse to appear in court.
D
The authority to interpret and administer the law is called
a. common law.
b. jurisdiction.
c. judicial review.
d. administrative law.
D
A person who claims her First Amendment rights were violated would have her case tried in
a. a federal court.
b. an appellate court.
c. a territorial court.
d. the Supreme Court.
A
Courts that review cases appealed from the district courts are called
a. small claims courts.
b. court-martials.
c. territorial courts.
d. courts of appeals.
D
The principle of judicial review was established by
a. John Marshall.
b. James Madison.
c. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
d. William Marbury.
B
The Supreme Court does not have original jurisdiction in cases involving
a. diplomatic representatives of other countries.
b. disputes between states.
c. conflicts between the federal government and a state.
d. violations of federal law by citizens.
D
Supreme Court justices
a. serve IO-year terms.
b. must be lawyers.
c. are appointed for life.
d. cannot be impeached.
C
The highest court in the United States is
a. a court of appeals.
b. the Supreme Court.
c. the U.S. Claims Court.
d. a district court.
C
A person convicted of a crime in a district court has the right to
a. appeal the verdict in a circuit court.
b. appeal the verdict to the grand jury.
c. appeal directly to the Supreme Court.
d. request a new trial in the district court.
A
Which of the following is a principal type of law in the United States?
a. statutory law
b. administrative law
c. common law
d. all of the above
D
An unsafe toy can be taken off the market through
a. statutory law
b. administrative law
c. common law
d. constitutional law
B
The constitutional right to a fair trial includes
a. the right of appeal.
b. the right to have a lawyer.
c. the right to a jury trial.
d. all of the above
D
At the base of the federal court system are the
a. district courts.
b. appellate courts.
c. military courts.
d. U.S. Courts of Appeals.
A
All district court judges (except those in U.S. territories)
a. serve four-year terms.
b. serve eight-year terms.
c. are appointed for life.
d. are U.S. marshals.
C
In a court of appeals, decisions are made by
a. a petit jury.
b. a grand jury.
c. the chief justice.
d. panels of at least three judges.
D
The U.S. Supreme Court works chiefly as a(n)
a. appeals court.
b. military court.
c. criminal court.
d. civil court.
A
Supreme Court justices can only be removed from office by
a. impeachment.
b. the president.
c. the voters.
d. a panel of district court justices.
A
Before a law can be declared unconstitutional,
a. the president must agree to the declaration.
b. there must be a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.
c. someone must challenge the law and bring a case to court.
d. the U.S. Court of Federal Claims must hold a hearing.
C
Approximately how many cases are placed on the Supreme Court docket each year?
a. 85 to 90
b. 200 to 400
c. 50 to 75
d. 500
A
Done!
:)