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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
What is the supreme law of the land? |
the Constitution |
Basic principles of the United States |
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What does the Constitution do? |
sets up and defines the government, protects basic rights of Americans |
Federalism |
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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 or addition to the Constitution |
Laws can change as a country grows |
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What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? |
the bill of rights |
The system and structure of government |
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? |
*speech, *religion, *assembly, *press, *petition the government |
A person's right to freedom of expression |
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How many amendments does the Constitution have? |
27 |
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What does the declaration of Independence do? |
*Announced, *declared our Independence from Great Britain, *said the US is free from Great Britain |
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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? |
Life, liberty and the 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, government. No one is above the law. |
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Name one branch or part of the government. |
*Congress *legislative *president *executive *the courts *judicial |
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? |
*checks and balances *separation of power |
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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 *US or national legislature |
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What are the two parts of the US Congress? |
The Senate and House of Representatives |
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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 now? |
*Ted Cruz *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. |
Lloyd Doggett |
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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 of: *The states population *They have more people *Some states have more people |
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We elect a president for how many years? |
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? |
Donald Trump |
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What is the name of the vice president? |
Mike Pence |
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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 positions? |
Secretary of Agriculture, commerce, defense, education, energy, health and human services, Homeland security, housing and Urban development, interior, labor, state, transportation, Treasury, 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 justices are on the Supreme Court? |
9 |
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Who is the Chief Justice of the United States? |
John Roberts |
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What is one power of the federal government? |
*print money *declare war *create an army *make treaties |
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What is one power of the state? |
*provide schooling and education *Protection (police) *Safety (fire department) *Give a driver's license *Approve zoning and land use |
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Who is the governor of Texas? |
Gregg Abbott |
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What is the capital of your state? |
Austin |
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What are the two major political parties? |
Democratic and Republican |
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What is the political party of the president now? |
Republican |
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What is the name of the speaker of the house of Representatives? |
Paul Ryan |
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There are 4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one: |
*citizens 18 and older can vote *You don't have to pay to vote *Any citizen can vote *A male citizen of any race can vote |
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What is one responsibility that is only for United States 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 US? |
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? |
The United States / the flag |
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What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen? |
*give up loyalty to other countries *Defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States *Obey the laws of the United States *Serve in the US 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 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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What is the last day you can send in Federal income tax forms? |
April 15 |
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When must all men register for the selective service? |
*age 18 *Between age 18 and 26 |
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What is one reason colonists came to America? |
*Freedom *Political liberty *Religious freedom *Economic opportunity *Practice their religion *Escape persecution |
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? |
*Native American *American Indians |
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves? |
*Africans *People from Africa |
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Why did the colonists fight the British? |
*Because of high taxes (taxation without representation) *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? |
Thomas Jefferson |
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When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? |
July 4, 1776 |
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Name 3 of the 13 original states? |
*New Hampshire *Massachusetts *Rhode Island *Connecticut *New York *New Jersey * *Pennsylvania *Delaware *Maryland *Virginia *North Carolina *South Carolina *Georgia |
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention? |
*the Constitution was written *The founding fathers wrote the Constitution |
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When was the Constitution written? |
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 that Benjamin Franklin is famous for? |
*US diplomat *Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention *First post master general of the US *Writer of "poor Richards, 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? |
George Washington |
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What territory did the US buy from from France in 1803? |
*Louisiana *The Louisiana territory |
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Name one war fought by the United States 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 the South? |
*the civil war *The war between the states |
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Name one problem that led to the civil war? |
*slavery *Economic reasons *States' rights |
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? |
*Freed the slaves *Saved the union *Led the United States during the civil war |
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? |
*freed the slaves *Freed the slaves in the Confederacy *Freed slaves in the Confederate states *Freed slaves in most southern states |
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What did Susan B. Anthony do? |
*fought for women's rights *fought for civil rights |
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Name one war fought by the United States in the1900s. |
*World War I *World War II *Korean War *Vietnam War *(Persian) Gulf War |
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Who was President during World War I? |
Woodrow Wilson |
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Who was President during the great depression and world War II? |
Franklin Roosevelt |
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Who did the United States fight in World War II? |
Japan, Germany and Italy |
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Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in? |
World War II |
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? |
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 United States? |
Terrorists attacked the United States |
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Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. |
*Cherokee *Navajo *Apache *Chippewa *Creek *Blackfeet *Inuit *Iroquois |
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Name one of the longest rivers in the United States. |
*Missouri River *Mississippi 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 |
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Name one U.S. territory. |
*Puerto Rico *U.S. Virgin Islands *American Samoa *Northern Mariana Islands *Guam |
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Name one state that borders Canada. |
*Maine *New Hampshire *New York *Washington *Alaska *Vermont *Ohio *Michigan *Idaho *Montana *North Dakota *Vermont *Pennsylvania |
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Name one state that borders Mexico. |
*Texas *California *Arizona *New Mexico |
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What is the capital of the United States? |
Washington DC |
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Where is the Statue of Liberty? |
*New York Harbor *Libert Island |
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes? |
To represent the 13 original colonies |
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Why does the flag have 50 stars? |
To represent each of the 50 states |
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What is the name of the National Anthem? |
The Star Spangled Banner |
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When do we celebrate Independence day? |
July 4 |
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Name two national holidays. |
*New Year's *Martin Luther King Jr *President's day *Memorial Day *Independence Day *Labor day *Columbus day *Veterans day *Thanksgiving *Christmas |
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