Principles of Government
What is the supreme law of the land?
FOR 1000 ADDITIONAL POINTS RECITE THE PREAMBLE FROM MEMORY.
The Constitution
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Name one branch or part of the government.
▪ Legislative
▪ Executive
▪ Judicial
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
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
▪ Native Americans
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
▪ War of 1812
▪ Mexican-American War
▪ Civil War
▪ Spanish-American War
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s not including World War I or World War II.
▪ Korean War
▪ Vietnam War
▪ (Persian) Gulf War
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
▪ Pacific (Ocean) / Atlantic (Ocean)
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
▪ July 4
What is an amendment?
▪ A change (to the Constitution)
▪ An addition (to the Constitution)
What are the two houses of congress that make federal laws called?
▪ The Senate and House of Representatives
What does the judicial branch do?
▪ Reviews laws
▪ Explains laws
▪ Resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
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
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
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
▪ Slavery
What movement tried to end racial discrimination? What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
▪ Civil rights movement / fought for civil rights OR worked for equality for all Americans
What is the capital of the United States?
▪ Washington, D.C.
What is the name of the national anthem?
▪ The Star-Spangled Banner
What is the economic system in the United States?
▪ Capitalist economy
▪ Market economy
Who is in charge of the executive branch, how many years do they serve, and in what month do we elect them?
▪ The President / 4 years / November
How many U.S. Senators are there? How many U.S. House of Representatives are there?
▪ One hundred (100) / Four hundred thirty-five (435)
Name one right only for United States citizens.
▪ Vote in a federal election
▪ Run for federal office
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
▪ The Constitution was written.
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
▪ The Louisiana Territory
Who did the United States fight in World War II? Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy / World War II
Name 4 state that borders Canada. Name 2 state that borders Mexico.
FOR 500 ADDITIONAL POINTS NAME ALL 13 THAT BORDER CANADA AND ALL 4 THAT BORDER MEXICO
Canada:
▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire
▪ Vermont ▪ New York
▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio
▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota
▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana
▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska
Mexico:
▪ California ▪ Arizona ▪ New Mexico ▪ Texas
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
▪ Because there is one star for each state
▪ Because each star represents a state
▪ Because there are 50 states
What does the Constitution do?
▪ Sets up the government
▪ Defines the government
▪Protects basic rights of Americans
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ The Vice President / The Speaker of the House
Who signs bills to become laws? Who vetoes bills?
▪ The President
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).
When was the Constitution written?
▪ 1787
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
▪ Freed the slaves
▪ Freed slaves in the Confederacy
▪ Freed slaves in the Confederate states
▪ Freed slaves in most Southern state
Who was President during World War I? Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
▪ (Woodrow) Wilson / (Franklin) Roosevelt
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
▪ Missouri (River)
▪ Mississippi (River)
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
▪ because there were 13 original colonies
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? How many amendments does the Constitution have?
FOR 1500 ADDITIONAL POINTS WHAT ARE THE FIRST 10 (what do they establish)
▪ The Bill of Rights / twenty-seven (27)
1. Freedom of speech
2. Right to bear arms
3. No quartering soldiers
4. No unreasonable search and seizure
5. No self incrimination
6. Trial by jury
7. Trial for all crimes
8. No unusual crime or punishment
9. Cannot deny rights
10. States rights
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
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
▪ To print money
▪ To declare war
▪ To create an army
▪ To make treaties
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? Starting at what age and ending at what age must all men register for the Selective Service?
▪ April 15 / between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ Fought for women’s rights
▪ Fought for civil rights
Name three Native American tribes 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
Name one U.S. territory.
▪ Puerto Rico
▪ U.S. Virgin Islands
▪ American Samoa
▪ Northern Mariana Islands
▪ Guam
Name 5 national U.S. holidays.
▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas