American Democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress ▪ legislative ▪ President ▪ executive ▪ the courts ▪ judicial
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
▪ American Indians ▪ Native Americans
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
▪ Cherokee
▪ Navajo
▪ Sioux
▪ Chippewa ▪ Choctaw ▪ Pueblo
▪ Apache
▪ Iroquois ▪ Creek
▪ Blackfeet ▪ Seminole ▪ Cheyenne ▪ Arawak
▪ Shawnee ▪ Mohegan ▪ Huron
▪ Oneida
▪ Lakota ▪ Crow ▪ Teton ▪ Hopi
▪ Inuit
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances ▪ separation of powers
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 group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
▪ the Louisiana Territory ▪ Louisiana
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the people
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Speaker of the House
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15th
When was the Constitution written?
1787
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 do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
-Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
-You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
-Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
-A male citizen of any race (can vote).
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
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
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
What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy