Principles of American Democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?=
the Constitution
What are the three branches of the government?
Legislative, executive, judicial
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
▪ freedom of expression ▪ freedom of speech ▪ freedom of assembly ▪ freedom to petition the government ▪ freedom of religion ▪ the right to bear arms
What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom ▪ political liberty ▪ religious freedom ▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution
Name one U.S. territory.
▪ Puerto Rico ▪ U.S. Virgin Islands ▪ American Samoa ▪ Northern Mariana Islands ▪ Guam
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government ▪ defines the government ▪ protects basic rights of Americans
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances ▪ separation of powers
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
▪ serve on a jury ▪ vote in a federal election
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
Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
Name one right only for United States citizens.
▪ vote in a federal election ▪ run for federal office
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
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
▪ New York (Harbor) ▪ Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution) ▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
When can your freedom of speech be restricted?
incitement to imminent lawless action, true threats, obscenity, and defamation. Private entities like employers or schools can also impose restrictions on speech, as the First Amendment protects against government censorship, not all forms of restricted expression
Who is the “Father of Our Country” and our first President?
George Washington
Name the 4 states that border Mexico.
▪ California ▪ Arizona ▪ New Mexico ▪ Texas
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
State's population affects the number of representatives they have.
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The constitution was written.
What two oceans touch the US?
Atlantic and Pacific