Principles of American Democracy
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18
Name all three branches of the government.
▪ legislative
▪ executive
▪ judicial
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington DC
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What is one 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
Who makes federal laws?
Congress
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific (Ocean)
Who was the first president of the United States?
George Washington
What are two right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
▪ speech
▪ religion
▪ assembly
▪ press
▪ petition the government
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 are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
▪ Missouri (River)
▪ Mississippi (River)
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
▪ serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
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).
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
Name one U.S. territory.
▪ Puerto Rico
▪ U.S. Virgin Islands
▪ American Samoa
▪ Northern Mariana Islands
▪ Guam
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776