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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the supreme law of the land? |
The Constitution |
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What does the Constitution do? |
*Sets up the government *Defines the government *Protects basic rights of Americans |
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The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? |
We the People |
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What is an amendment? |
*A change (to the Constitution) *An addition (to the Constitution) |
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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? |
The Bill of Rights |
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? |
*Freedom of Speech *Freedom of Religion *Freedom of Assembly *Freedom of Press *Freedom to petition the government |
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How many amendments does the Constitution have? |
Twenty-seven (27) |
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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) |
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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? |
*Life *Liberty *Pursuit of happiness |
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What is freedom of religion? |
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion |
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What is the economic system in the United States? |
*Capitalist economy *Market economy |
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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 |
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Name one branch or part of the government |
*Legislative/Congress *Executive/President *Judicial/The Courts |
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? |
*Checks and balances *Separation of powers |
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Who is in charge of the executive branch? |
The President |
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Who makes federal laws? |
*Congress *Senate and House of Representatives *U.S. or National Legislature |
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What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? |
The Senate and House of Representatives |
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How many U.S. Senators are there? |
One hundred (100) |
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We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? |
Six (6) |
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Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now? |
*Bob Casey *Pat Toomey |
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members? |
Four hundred thirty-five (435) |
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We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? |
Two (2) years
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Name your U.S. Representative |
Bill Shuster |
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Who does a U.S. Senator represent? |
All people of the state |
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? |
*The state's population *They have more people *Some states have more people |
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We elect a President for how many years? |
Four (4) |
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In what month do we vote for President? |
November |
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What is the name of the President of the United States now? |
(Barack) Obama |
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? |
(Joseph R.) Biden (Jr.) |
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? |
The Vice President |
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If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? |
The Speaker of the House |
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? |
The President |
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Who signs bills to become laws? |
The President |
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Who vetoes bills? |
The President |
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What does the President's Cabinet do? |
Advises the President |
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What are two Cabinet-level postitions? |
*Secretary of Agriculture *Secretary of Commerce *Secretary of Defense *Secretary of Education *Secretary of Energy *Secretary of Health and Human Services *Secretary of Homeland Security *Secretary of Housing and Urban Development *Secretary of the Interior *Secretary of Labor *Secretary of State *Secretary of Transportation *Secretary of the Treasury *Secretary of Veterans Affairs *Attorney General *Vice President |
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What does the judicial branch do? |
*Reviews laws *Explains laws *Resolves disputes *Decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
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What is the highest court in the United States? |
The Supreme Court |
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How many justies are on the Supreme Court? |
Nine (9) |
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Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? |
John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.) |
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one of these powers?
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*To declare war *To create an army *To make treaties |
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one of these powers?
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*Provide schooling and education *Provide protection (police) *Provide safety (fire departments) *Give a driver's license *Approve zoning and land use |
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Who is the Governor of your state now?
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Tom Wolf
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What is the capital of your state?
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Harrisburg |
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What are the two major political parties in the United States? |
Democratic and Republican |
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What is the political party of the Presidnet now? |
Democratic |
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What is the name of the Speak of the House of Representatives now? |
(John) Boehner
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*You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote *Any citizen can vote (men and women) *A male citizen of any race can vote |
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What is one responsibility only for United States citizens?
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*Vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for United States citizens
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*Run for federal office |
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What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? |
*Freedom of speech *Freedom of assembly *Freedom to petition the government *Freedom of worship *Right to bear arms |
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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*The flag |
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What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
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*Defend the Constitution and laws of the United States *oObey 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 |
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for Presidnet?
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Eigghteen (18) and older |
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What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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*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 |
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When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
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April 15
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When must all men register for the Selective Service?
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*Between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) |
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What is one reason colonists came to America?
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*Political liberty *Religious freedom *Economic oportunity *Practice their religion *Escape persecution |
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
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*Native Americans |
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves? |
*People from Africa |
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Why did the colonists fight the British? |
*Because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) *Because they didn't have self-government |
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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(Thomas) Jefferson
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When was the Declaration of Indepenendence adopted? |
July 4, 1776 |
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Name three of the 13 original colonies
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*New Hampshire *Massachusetts *Rhode Island *Connecticut *New York *New Jersey *Pennsylvania *Delaware *Maryland *Virgina *North Carolina *South Carolina *Geogria |
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What hapened at the Constitutional Convention?
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*The Founidng Fathers wrote the Constitution |
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When was the Constitution written?
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1787 |
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The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers |
*(Alexander) Hamilton *(John) Jay *Publius |
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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*Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention *First Postmaster General of the United States *Writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac" *Started the first free libraries |
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
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(George) Washington
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Who was the first President? |
(George) Washington |
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What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
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*Louisiana |
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s
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*Mexican-American War *Civil War *Spanish-American War |
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Name the U.S. war between the North and the South
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*The War between the States |
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War
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*Economic reasons *States' rights |
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What is one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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*Saved (or preserved) the Union *Led the United States during the Civil War |
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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Freed the slaves |
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What did Susan B. Anthony do? |
*Fought for civil rights |
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s
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*World War II *Korean War *Vietnam War *(Persian) Gulf War |
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Who was President during World War I?
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(Woodrow) Wilson |
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Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
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(Franklin) Roosevelt |
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Who did the United States fight in World War II?
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*Japan *Germany *Italy |
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Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
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World War II
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
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Communism |
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What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
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Civil rights (movement) |
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What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
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*Worked for equality for all Americans |
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
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Terrorists attacked the United States |
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Name one American Indian tribe in the United States
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*Cherokee *Navajo *Sioux *Chippewa *Choctaw *Pueblo *Apache *Iroquois *Creek *Blackfeet *Seminole *Cheyenne *Arawak *Shawnee *Mohegan *Huron *Oneida *Lakota *Crow *Teton *Hopi *Inuit |
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
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*Missouri River |
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? |
Pacific Ocean |
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? |
Atlantic Ocean |
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Name one U.S. territory |
*U.S. Virgin Islands *American Samoa *Northern Mariana Islands *Guam |
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Name one state that borders Canada |
*New Hampshire *Vermont *New York *Pennsylvania *Ohio *Michigan *North Dakota *Montana *Idaho *Washingon *Alaska |
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Name one state that borders Mexico
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*Arizone *New Mexico *Texas |
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What is the capital of the United States? |
Washington, D.C. |
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What is the Statue of Liberty |
*Liberty Island |
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes? |
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Why does the flag have 50 stars
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Because there is one star for each state
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What is the name of the national anthem?
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The Star-Spangled Banner |
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When do we celebrate Independence Day? |
July 4 |
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Name two national U.S. Holidays |
*Martin Luther King, Jr. Day *Presidents' Day *Memorial Day *Independence Day *Labor Day *Columbus Day *Veterans Day *Thanksgiving *Christmas |