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What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution.
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The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People.
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What does the Constitution do?
Sets up the government; defines the government; protects basic rights of Americans.
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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights.
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How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27 amendments.
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What is the "rule of law"?
Everyone must follow the law; government must obey the law; leaders must obey the law; no one is above the law.
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What did the Declaration of Independence do?
It declared the independence.
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What is an amendment?
A change or an addition to the Constitution.
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What is ONE right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Freedom of speech (religion, press, assembly, petition the government).
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What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion or not practice a religion.
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What are TWO rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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What is the economic system in the United States?
A capitalist economy.
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Name ONE branch or part of the government.
Judicial, legislative, and executive.
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The President.
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances; separation of powers.
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Who makes federal laws?
The Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives).
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What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives.
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How many U.S. Senators are there?
100 senators (two per state).
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We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
For 6 years.
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Who is ONE of your state's U.S. Senators now?
Robert Bennet and Orrin Hatch.
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435 voting members.
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We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
For 2 years.
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Name your U.S. Representative.
Rob Bishop.
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Who does a U.S Senator represent?
All the people of the state.
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
Because of the state's population.
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We elect a President for how many years?
For 4 years.
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In what month do we vote for president?
In November.
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What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Barack Obama.
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Joe Biden.
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President.
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If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President.
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Who signs bills to become laws?
The President.
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Who vetoes bills?
The President.
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What does the President's Cabinet do?
It advices the President.
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What are TWO Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Education (Arne Duncan); Secretary of Energy (Steven Chu)
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What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disagreement; decides if a law goes against the Constitution.
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What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court.
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How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9 justices.
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Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John Roberts Jr.
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is ONE power of the federal government?
To print money; to declare war; the make treaties; to create an army.
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is ONE power of the states?
To provide protection and safety; to provide schooling and education; issue driver's licenses; to approve zoning and land use.
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Who is the Governor of your state now?
Gary Herbert.
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What is the capital of your state?
Salt Lake City.
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What are the two major political parties in the United States?
The Republican party and the Democratic party.
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What is the political party of the President now?
The Democratic party.
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What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
Nancy Pelosi.
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There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them.
Any citizen, men or women, eighteen or older can vote.
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What is ONE responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
To vote in a federal election; to serve on a jury.
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Name ONE right only for United States citizens.
To run for federal office; to vote in a federal election.
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What are TWO rights of everyone living in the United States?
Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; the right to bear arms.
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
To the flag and to the United States.
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What is ONE promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
To be loyal to the United States; to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States; to obey the laws of the United States; to serve the nation; to serve in the military; to give up loyalty to other countries.
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
18 and older.
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What are TWO ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
To vote; to join a civic group; to write to or call Senators and Representatives; to join a political party.
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When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15.
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When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Between 18 and 26 years old.
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What is ONE reason colonists came to America?
Economic opportunity; to escape persecussion; religious freedom.
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans.
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans.
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Why did the colonists fight the British?
Because of taxation without representation; because they didn't have self-government.
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
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When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776.
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There were 13 original states. Name THREE.
Massachusets; Rhode Island; New Jersey; Connecticut; New Hampshire; Delaware; Maryland; Pennsylvania; New York, etc.
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written.
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When was the Constitution written?
In 1787.
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The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers.
James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay.
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What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
The oldest member of the Constitutional Convention; U.S. diplomat; the first Postmaster General; started the first free libraries.
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
Gearge Washington.
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Who was the first President?
George Washington.
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What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
Louisiana.
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Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
The Mexican-American War; the Spanish-American War; the Civil War; the War of 1812.
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Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
The Civil War (1861-1865).
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Name ONE problem that led to the Civil War.
Slavery; economic reasons; states' rights.
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What was ONE important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
He freed the slaves; saved the Union; led the United States during the Civil War.
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
It freed the slaves.
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What did Susan B. Anthony do?
She fought for the rights of women and for civil rights.
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Name ONE war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I; World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War; Gulf War.
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Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson.
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Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt.
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Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Germany, Italy, and Japan.
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Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II.
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism.
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What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights movement.
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What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
He fought for civil rights.
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States.
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Name ONE American Indian tribe in the United States.
Iroquois; Navajo; Cherokee, etc.
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Name ONE of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Missouri and Mississippi.
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
The Pacific Ocean.
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
The Atlantic Ocean.
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Name ONE U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico; Northern Mariana Islands; Guam; U.S. Virgin Islands; American Samoa.
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Name ONE state that borders Canada.
Alaska, Washignton, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, etc.
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Name ONE state that borders Mexico.
California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
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What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
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Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor; Liberty Island.
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Because the stripes represent the 13 original colonies.
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Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Because each star represents a state.
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What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner.
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When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4.
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Name TWO national U.S. holidays.
Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; New Year's Day.
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