1. What is the supreme law of the land?
audio
• The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
audio
• sets up the government
• defines the government
• protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
audio
• We the People
4. What is an amendment?
audio
• a change (to the Constitution)
• an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments
to the Constitution?
audio
• the Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the
First Amendment?*
audio
• speech • religion • assembly • press
• petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
audio
• twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of
Independence do?
audio
• announced our independence
(from Great Britain)
• declared our independence (from
Great Britain)
• said that the United States is free (from
Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
audio
• life • liberty • pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
audio
• You can practice any religion, or not practice
a religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
audio
• capitalist economy • market economy
12. What is the «rule of law»?
audio
• Everyone must follow the law.
• Leaders must obey the law.
• Government must obey the law
• No one is above the law.
13. Name one branch or part of the
government.*
audio
• Congress • legislative • President
• executive • the courts • judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
audio
• checks and balances
• separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
audio
• the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
audio
• Congress
• Senate and House (of Representatives)
• (U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
audio
• the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
audio
• one hundred (100)
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
audio
• six (6)
20. Who is one of your states U.S. Senators now?*
audio
• For a complete list of U.S. Senators and the states they represent, go to http://www.senate.gov/senators/contacts/
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
audio
• four hundred thirty-five (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
audio
• two (2)
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
audio
• Answer will vary. For a complete list of U.S. representatives and the districts they represent, go to http://www.house.gov/representatives/
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
audio
• all people of the state
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
audio
• (because of) the state’s population
• (because) they have more people
• (because) some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
audio
• four years (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
audio
• November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
audio
• Donal J. Trump
• Donal Trump
• Trump
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
audio
* Michael R. Pence
* Mike Pence
* Pence
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
audio
• the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
audio
• the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
audio
• the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
audio
• the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
audio
• the President
35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
audio
• advises the President
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
audio
• 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 & Urban Development
• Secretary of Interior
• Secretary of State
• Secretary of Transportation
• Secretary of Treasury
• Secretary of Veterans? Affairs
• Secretary of Labor
• Attorney General
• Vice President
37. What does the judicial branch do?
audio
• reviews laws
• explains laws
• resolves disputes (disagreements)
• decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
audio
• the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
audio
• nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
audio
• John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
audio
• to print money • to declare war
• to create an army • to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
audio
• provide schooling and education
• provide protection (police)
• provide safety (fire departments)
• give a drivers license
• approve zoning and land use
43. 43. Who is the Governor of your state?
audio
• Answer will vary. To learn the name of the governor of your state go to www.usa.gov
44. What is the capital of your state?*
audio
• Answer will vary. To learn the capital of your state go to www.usa.gov
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
audio
• Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
audio
• Democratic (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
audio
• John Boehner
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
audio
• Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
• You do not have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
• Any citizen can vote. (Women & men can vote.)
• A male citizen of any race (can vote).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
audio
• serve on a jury • vote
50. Name one right only for United States citizens?
audio
• vote in a federal election
• run for federal office
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
audio
• freedom of expression
• freedom of speech
• freedom of assembly
• freedom to petition the government
• freedom of worship
• the right to bear arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
audio
• the United States
• the flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
audio
• give up loyalty to other countries
• defend the Constitution and laws of the USA
• obey 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
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
audio
• eighteen (18) years and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
audio
• 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
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
audio
• April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
audio
• at age eighteen (18)
• between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
audio
• freedom
• political liberty
• religious freedom
• economic opportunity
• practice their religion
• escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
audio
• Native Americans • American Indians
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
audio
• Africans • people from Africa
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
audio
• because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
• because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
• because they didn’t have self-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
audio
• (Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
audio
• July 4, 1776
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
audio
• New Hampshire • Massachusetts
• Rhode Island • Connecticut • New York
• New Jersey • Pennsylvania • Delaware
• Maryland • Virginia • North Carolina
• South Carolina • Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
audio
• The Constitution was written.
• The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
66. When was the Constitution written?
audio
• 1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
audio
• (James) Madison
• (Alexander) Hamilton
• (John) Jay
• Publius
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
audio
• U.S. diplomat
• oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
• first Postmaster General of the United States
• writer of «Poor Richards Almanac»
• started the first free libraries
69. Who is the «Father of Our Country»?
audio
• (George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?*
audio
• (George) Washington
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
audio
• the Louisiana Territory
• Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
audio
• War of 1812
• Mexican-American War
• Civil War
• Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
audio
• the Civil War
• the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
audio
• slavery
• economic reasons
• states’ rights
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
audio
• freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
• saved (or preserved) the Union
• led the United States during the Civil War
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
audio
• freed the slaves
• freed slaves in the Confederacy
• freed slaves in the Confederate states
• freed slaves in most Southern states
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
audio
• fought for women’s rights
• fought for civil rights
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
audio
• World War I
• World War II
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• (Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I?
audio
• (Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
audio
• (Franklin) Roosevelt
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
audio
• Japan, Germany and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
audio
• World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
audio
• Communism
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
audio
• civil rights (movement)
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
audio
• fought for civil rights
• worked for equality for all Americans
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
audio
• Terrorists attacked the United States.
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
audio
• Cherokee • Navajo • Sioux • Chippewa
• Choctaw • Pueblo • Apache • Iroquois
• Creek • Blackfeet • Seminole • Cheyenne
• Arawak • Shawnee • Mohegan • Huron
• Oneida • Lakota Crow • Teton • Hopi
• Inuit
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
audio
• Missouri (River)
• Mississippi (River)
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
audio
• Pacific (Ocean)
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
audio
• Atlantic (Ocean)
91. Name one U.S. territory.
audio
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Guam
• American Samoa
• Northern Mariana Islands
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
audio
• Maine • New Hampshire • Vermont
• New York • Pennsylvania • Ohio • Michigan
• Minnesota • North Dakota • Montana
• Idaho • Washington • Alaska
93. Name one State that borders Mexico.
audio
• California
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Texas
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
audio
• Washington, D.C.
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
audio
• New York (Harbor)
• Liberty Island
• [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
audio
• because there were 13 original colonies
• because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
audio
• because there is one star for each state
• because each star represents a state
• because there are 50 states
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
audio
• The Star-Spangled Banner
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
audio
• July 4
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
audio
• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents Day • Memorial Day
• Independence Day • Labor Day
• Columbus Day • Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving • Christmas
If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.