Principles of American Democracy
1. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? What is the supreme law of the land?
We the People
Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?
Deb Fischer
Pete Ricketts
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
▪ American Indians
▪ Native Americans
What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom
▪ political liberty
▪ religious freedom
▪ economic opportunity
▪ practice their religion
▪ escape persecution
Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska
2. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ the Speaker of the House
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
▪ April 15
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 U.S. territory.
▪ Puerto Rico ▪ U.S. Virgin Islands ▪ American Samoa ▪ Northern Mariana Islands ▪ Guam
What is the economic system in the United States?
▪ capitalist economy
▪ market economy
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 the U.S. war between the North and the South
▪ the Civil War
▪ the War between the States
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
▪ because there were 13 original colonies
▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
▪ the Louisiana Territory
▪ Louisiana
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
Pacific (Ocean)
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.
Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
▪ 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
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
▪ World War II
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
▪ Missouri (River)
▪ Mississippi (River)