The Constitution
What is it called when the president says no to a bill given to him by Congress?
A veto
What ocean is located on the west coast of America?
Pacific
What was the main cause of the Civil War (1861-1865)
Slavery. The southern states wanted freedom to keep slaves, so they seceded (separated) from the United States and formed the Confederate States. The northern states wanted to keep the original union intact and fought back when the South tried to seize federal property.
What are the three branches of the US government as laid out in the Constitution?
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
What do you call goods that are shipped out of a country for trade with another country?
Exports
What are the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
In what continent will you find the country of Brazil?
South America
What happened in 1849 in California that caused thousands of people to suddenly move there?
Gold was discovered. The people who went there in hopes of striking it rich were called the "Forty-niners."
What type of government does the United States have?
A (democratic) republic in which the citizens elect people to represent them in government.
If the demand for a product or service is high, but the supply is low, what will that do to the cost to the consumer?
How long is the term for a United States Senator?
Six
What is the name of the invisible line of latitude that divides the Earth through the center?
equator
Virginia was originally a large state that later was divided into two other states. What states were they?
Kentucky (1792)
West Virginia (1863)
What document lays out the rules for how the American government is run?
The U.S. Constitution
What are some examples of push factors that may cause people to immigrate to another country?
War
Extreme poverty/no job opportunities
Gang violence/threats
What government branch appoints federal judges?
The executive branch (president)
What is the one continent on Earth that has no permanent human residents?
Antarctica
In 1776 the Continental Congress signed a document declaring the American colonies to be "free and independent states," breaking away from Great Britain. What do we call that document?
The Declaration of Independence
How long can a Supreme Court justice hold his or her seat?
Until death or voluntary retirement
What is more severe, an economic depression or a recession?
A depression is when the GDP gross domestic product declines by more than 10 percent. GDP measures the market value of all goods and services produced by a country in a given time period. The GDP is considered a valuable measure of the economic health of a country.
What keeps each branch of the government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances
What is the name of the body of water between Southern Europe and Northern Africa?
The Mediterranean Sea
What was the name of the large block of land that was bought from France in 1803 under the leadership of President Thomas Jefferson?
The Louisiana Purchase
What is the name of the body of electors who actually vote for the president and vice president?
The Electoral College
(It is made up of electors who represent the number of people in Congress from each state. They traditionally vote for whomever won the largest percentage of votes in the states they represent).
When inflation is rapidly increasing the cost of goods, transportation and housing, what action does the Federal Reserve typically take to slow it down?
They increase the interest rate for loans. By making it more costly to borrow and spend, rate hikes typically discourage borrowing and spending, usually slowing inflation.