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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the supreme law of the land? |
The US Constitution |
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What does the US Constitution do? |
Defines the government Protects the basic rights of Americans |
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The idea of self-government is in the first 3 words of the Constitution. What are these words? |
We the People |
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What is an ammendment? |
A change to the US Constitution |
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What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? |
The Bill of Rights |
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? |
Speech Religion Assembly Press Petition the government |
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How many amendments does the Constitution have? |
27 |
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What did the Declaration of Independence do? |
Declared our independence 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 US? |
Capitalist Economy |
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What is the "rule of law"? |
Everyone must follow the law. No one is above the law. |
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Name one branch or part of the government. |
Congress/House of Representative = Legislative President = Executive Supreme Court = Judicial |
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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?
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The President of the US |
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Who makes federal laws? |
Congress/Senate and House of Representatives National legistlature |
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What are the two parts of the US Congress? |
House of Representatives & the Senate |
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How many US senators are there? |
100 |
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We elect a US Senator for how many years? |
6 |
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Who is one of your state's US Senators? |
Ted Cruz or John Cornyn |
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members? |
435 |
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We elect a US Representative for how many years? |
2 |
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Name your US Representative |
Bill Flores
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Who does a US Senator represent? |
All people of the state |
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? |
Because some states have a larger population |
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We elect a President for how many years?
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4 |
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In what month do we vote for President? |
November |
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What is the name of the current President of the US?
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Donald J. Trump |
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
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Michael R. Pence |
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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The Vice President |
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If both the President and 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? |
They advise the President |
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What are 2 Cabinet-level positions? |
Secretary of: Agriculture Commerce Defense Education Energy Health and Human Services Homeland Security Housing and Urban Development Interior Labor State Transportation Treasury Veteran Affairs Attorney General Vice President |
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What does the Judicial branch do?
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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 justices are on the Supreme Court? |
9 |
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Who is the current Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court? |
John G. Roberts, Jr. |
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? |
Print money Declare war Create an army Make a treaties |
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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 |
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Who is the Governor of your state now? |
Greg Abbott |
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What is the capital of your state? |
Austin, Texas |
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What are the two major political parties in the United States?
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Democratic Party and Republican Party |
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What is the political party of the President now? |
Republican Party |
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Who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives?
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Nancy Pelosi |
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There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one. |
Citizens 18+ can vote No poll tax Any citizen can vote A male citizen of any race can vote |
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What is one responsibility that is only for US citizens? |
Serve on a jury Vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for US citizens |
Vote in a federal election Run for federal office |
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What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? |
Freedom of: Expression Speech Assembly Petition the government Religion 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 US and the US flag
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What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
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Give up loyalty to other countries
Defend the Constitution and laws of the US Obey the laws of the US Serve in the US military if needed Serve the nation if needed Be loyal to the US |
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for President? |
18+
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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 |
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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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At the age of 18
Between the 18 and 26 |
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What is one reason colonists came to America?
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Freedom Political Liberty Religious Freedom Economic Opportunity Escape Persecution |
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? |
Native Americas |
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
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Africans |
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Why did the colonists fight the British? |
Because of high taxes British army stayed in their houses Didn't have self-government |
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? |
Thomas Jefferson |
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When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
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July 4, 1776 |
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There were 13 original states. Name 3. |
New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Virginia North and South Carolina Georgia |
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention? |
The Founding 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 US Constitution. Name one of the writers. |
James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay Publius |
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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US Diplomat The oldest member of the Constitutional Convention First Postmaster General of the US Writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac" Started the first free libraries |
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"? |
George Washington |
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Who was the first President?
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George Washington |
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What territory did the US buy from France in 1803? |
The Louisiana Territory |
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s. |
War of 1812 Mexican-American War Civil War Spanish-American War |
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Name the US war between the North and South. |
The Civil War |
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
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Slavery Economic reasons States' rights |
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? |
Freed the slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation Preserved the Union Led the US during the Civil War |
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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Freed slaves in the Confederacy
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What did Susan B. Anthony do?
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Fought for women's rights and civil rights |
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1900s. |
WW I WW II Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War |
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Who was President during WW I? |
Woodrow Wilson |
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Who was President during the Great Depression and WW 2? |
Franklin Roosevelt |
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Who did the US fight in WW II?
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Japan, Germany, and Italy
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Before he was President, Dwight D. Eisenhower served as a General in which war? |
WW II |
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US? |
Communism |
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What movement tried to end racial discrimination? |
Civil Rights Movement |
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What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? |
Fought for Civil Rights Worked for equality for all Americans |
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the US? |
Terrorists attacked the US |
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Name one Native American Tribe in the US.
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Cherokee
Navajo Sioux Choctaw Apache Seminole Cheyenne Arawak Lakota Crow Inuit |
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the US. |
Mississippi River Missouri River |
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the US? |
Pacific Ocean |
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the US? |
Atlantic Ocean |
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Name one US Territory |
Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam |
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Name one state that borders Canada. |
Washington Montana Idaho North Dakota Alaska |
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Name one state that borders Mexico. |
Texas California New Mexico Arizona |
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What is the capital of the US? |
Washington DC |
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Where is the Statue of Liberty? |
New York Harbor Liberty Island |
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Why does the US flag have 13 stripes? |
To represent the original 13 colonies |
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Why does the flag have 50 stars? |
Each star represents a current state. |
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What is the name of the national anthem? |
The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key |
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When do we celebrate Independence Day?
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July 4 |
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Name two national US holidays.
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New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day President's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas |