Principles of Democracy
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
Name ONE right for United States citizens
vote in a federal election
run for federal office
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances
separation of powers
When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
July 4, 1776
Name TWO national U.S. holidays
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
What are TWO rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
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
Who signs bills to become laws?
the President
Name one war fought by the Unites States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
because there is one for each state
because each star represents a state
because there are 50 states
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
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is ONE power of the federal government?
to print money
to declare money
to create an army
to make treaties
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights (movement)
Name one state that borders Mexico.
California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these three words?
We the People
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them.
Citizens 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
What are TWO Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of - Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, the interior, Labor, State, Transportation, the Treasury, Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice Presiden
Name ONE American Indian tribe in the United States.
Cherokee, Creek, Huron, Navajo, Blackfeet, Oneida, Sioux, Seminole, Lakota, Chippewa, Cheyenne, Crow, Choctaw, Arawak, Teton, Pueblo, Shawnee, Hopi, Apache, Mohegan, Inuit, Iroquois
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 does the Constitution do?
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic human rights
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
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
There were 13 original colonies. Name three.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Islands, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt