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Civics
USCIS Civics for the Naturalization Test
Question | Answer |
---|---|
What is the supreme law of the land? | The Constitution |
What does the Constitution do? | * Sets up the government * Defines the government * Protects the basic rights of Americans |
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these three words? | We the People |
What is an amendment? | A change/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 * petition the government |
How many amendments does the Constitution have? | 27 |
What did the Declaration of Independence do? | * Declared our independence from Great Britain |
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? | * Life * Liberty * 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"? | * Everyone must follow the law. * Leaders must obey the law. * Government must obey the law. * No one is above the law. |
Name one branch or part of the government. | * Legislative branch (Congress) * Executive branch (President) * Judicial Branch (the courts) |
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 |
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? | 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? | * Mike Lee * Orrin G. Hatch |
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. | * Mia Love * Chris Stewart * John Curtis * Rob Bishop |
Who does a U.S. Senator represent? | All people of the state |
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? | State 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 United States now? | Donald J. Trump |
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States 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 the 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: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs * Attorney General * Vice President |
What does the judicial branch do? | * Reviews/explains laws * Resolves disputes * Decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
What is the highest court in the United States? | The Supreme Court |
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? | 9 |
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? | John Roberts |
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 |
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 |
Who is the Governor of your state now? | Gary Herbert |
What is the capital of your state? | Salt Lake City |
What are the two major political parties in the United States? | Democratic and Republican |
What is the political party of the President now? | Republican |
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? | Paul Ryan |
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. | * Citizens 18 and older can vote. * You don't have to pay a poll tax to vote. * A male citizen of any race can vote. * Women can vote. |
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? | * Serve on a jury * Vote in a federal election |
Name one right only for U.S. citizens. | * Vote in a federal election * Run for federal office |
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? | * Freedom of: expression, speech, assembly, religion * Freedom to petition the government * Right to bear arms |
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? | * The United States * The American flag |
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 * Be loyal to the United States |
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President? | 18+ |
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? | Vote, join a political party, help with a campaign, join a civic group, call Senators and Representatives, publicly support or oppose an issue or policy, run for office, write to a newspaper |
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? | April 15 |
When must all men register for the Selective Service? | At age 18 |
What is one reason colonists came to America? | Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, escape persecution |
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? | Native Americans |
What group of people was taken to American and sold as slaves? | Africans |
Why did the colonists fight the British? | * Taxation without representation * British boarding/quartering * No self-government |
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 Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. |
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 United States * Started the first free libraries |
Who is the "father of our country"? | George Washington |
Who was the first President? | George Washington |
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? | The Louisiana Territory |
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. | * War of 1812 * Mexican-American War * Civil War * Spanish-American War |
Name the U.S. war between the Nort 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? | * Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) * Saved (or preserved) the Union * Led the United States during the Civil War |
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? | Freed the slaves |
What did Susan B. Anthony do? | Fought for women's rights |
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. | * World War I * World War II * Korean War * Vietnam War |
Who was the President during World War I? | Woodrow Wilson |
Who was the President during the Great Depression and World War II? | Franklin Roosevelt |
Who did the United States fight in World War II? | Japan, Germany, and Italy |
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in? | World War II |
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? | Communism |
What movement tried to end racial discrimination? | 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 Sept 11, 2001, in the United States? | Terrorists attacked the United States. |
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. | Cherokee, Navajo, Apache |
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. | Missouri River, Mississippi River |
What ocean is on the west coast of the United States? | Pacific |
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? | Atlantic |
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, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska |
Name one state that borders Mexico. | California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
What is the capital of the United States? | Washington, D.C. |
Where is the Statue of Liberty? | New York (Liberty Island) |
Why does the flag have 13 stripes? | 13 original colonies |
Why does the flag have 50 stars? | 50 states |
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, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas |