Rights & Responsibilities
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
▪ vote in a federal election
▪ run for federal office
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
When was the Constitution written?
1787
How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ one hundred (100)
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ fought for women’s rights
▪ fought for civil rights
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
▪ the United States
▪ the flag
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
▪ the Bill of Rights
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
▪ The Constitution was written.
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
▪ the Louisiana Territory
▪ Louisiana
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).
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius
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
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
▪ slavery
▪ economic reasons
▪ states’ rights
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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▪ 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
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
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
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
▪ War of 1812
▪ Mexican-American War
▪ Civil War
▪ Spanish-American War
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 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 is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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▪ U.S. diplomat
▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
▪ first Postmaster General of the United States
▪ writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
▪ started the first free libraries
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
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 states