Principles of American Government
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
• Forms the government
• Defines powers of government
• Defines the parts of government
• Protects the rights of the people
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial
What are three rights of everyone living in the United States guaranteed by the First Amendment?
Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
What is the supreme law of the land?
The U.S. Constitution
If the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Speaker of the House
How can people become United States citizens?
• Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment
• Naturalize
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s
War of 1812
Mexican–American War
American Civil War
Spanish–American War
Barbary Wars (First and Second)
Seminole Wars (First, Second, and Third)
Indian Wars (various conflicts throughout the century)
Name one U.S. Territory
American Samoa
Guam
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
What is "the rule of law"?
The rule of law means that everyone, including the government, is accountable to publicly known and fairly enforced laws.
Name two Executive Cabinet-level positions.
Vice President
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
There are four amendments to the U.S. 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).
Who was the president during the Great Depression and WWII?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
To represent the 13 original colonies.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
The Declaration of Independence
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
The United States/flag
There were 13 original states. Name 3.
Virginia (1607)
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Maryland
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Delaware
New Jersey
North Carolina
South Carolina Pennsylvania
Georgia
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star Spangled Banner
There are three branches of government. Why?
• So one part does not become too powerful
• Checks and balances
• Separation of powers
Some states have more House representatives than other states. Why?
What is one way Americans can serve their country?
Vote, pay taxes, obey the law, serve in military, run for office, work for local/state/federal government.
The Federalist Papers helped people understand and support the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
James Madison
Name three national U.S. holidays
• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day