North American Geography
What is the largest country in North America by land area?
Canada
In what year did the American Revolutionary War begin?
1775
How many branches of government does the United States have?
Three
What is a bill in government?
A bill is a proposed law that has not been passed yet.
What is the Constitution of the United States?
It is the supreme law of the land that sets up our government and explains how it works.
Which two countries share the longest international border in the world?
The United States and Canada
What was the name of the document in which the 13 colonies declared their independence from Great Britain?
The Declaration of Independence
What are the three branches of government called?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branche.
Which branch of government is mainly responsible for writing and introducing bills?
The Legislative Branch (Congress).
In what year was the U.S. Constitution written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia?
1787
What is the name of the mountain range that runs along the western part of North America, through both the United States and Canada?
The Rocky Mountains
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Which branch of government is responsible for making laws, and what is the main body in that branch?
The Legislative Branch, and its main body is Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate)
After a bill is passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, who must sign it for it to become law?
The President, who is part of the Executive Branch.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which list important rights and freedoms?
The Bill of Rights
Which two North American countries are part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea?
Haiti and the Dominican Republic
What was the turning point battle of the Revolutionary War, where the American victory convinced France to help the colonies?
The Battle of Saratoga
Which branch of government can declare laws unconstitutional, and what is the highest court in that branch?
The Judicial Branch, and the highest court is the Supreme Court of the United States
If the President vetoes (rejects) a bill, what can Congress do to still make it a law, and what fraction of votes is needed in each house?
Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds (2/3) vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
What is the main purpose of the Preamble to the Constitution?
to form a more perfect union and establish justice.
The Yucatán Peninsula is part of which North American country, and which body of water lies to its north?
It is part of Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico lies to its north.
What was the name of the agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the United States?
The Treaty of Paris (1783)
The President can veto a bill passed by Congress. What can Congress do if it still wants that bill to become law, and what fraction of votes does it need in each house?
Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds (2/3) vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate
How can the Judicial Branch affect a law that started as a bill, even after it has been passed and signed by the President?
The Judicial Branch, through the Supreme Court, can declare the law unconstitutional, which can stop it from being enforced.
What does it mean to amend the Constitution, and why did the Founders make it possible but difficult to do?
To change or add to it through a formal process.