Principles of American Democracy
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
What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific (Ocean)
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
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
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 U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
How many U.S. Senators are there?
100
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
18
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
Name one state that borders Mexico
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
▪ announced our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ declared our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
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
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
Name three state that borders Canada
▪ Maine
▪ New Hampshire
▪ Vermont
▪ New York
▪ Pennsylvania
▪ Ohio
▪ Michigan
▪ Minnesota
▪ North Dakota
▪ Montana
▪ Idaho
▪ Washington
▪ Alaska
What is the “rule of law”?
▪ Everyone must follow the law.
▪ Leaders must obey the law.
▪ Government must obey the law.
▪ No one is above the law.
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
▪ give up loyalty to other countries
▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
▪ 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
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
Civil Rights Movement
What region of the world does the US conflict with often in the 21st century?
The Middle East