USCIS Civics Test
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
We elect a president for how many years
4
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
435
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
6
How many justices are on the supreme court?
9
Name ONE state that borders Mexico (4)
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Name ONE American Indian tribe in the US (22)
Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet, Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan, Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, Inuit
Name the US war between the North and the South.
Civil war/War between the states.
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
for the 13 original colonies
What are TWO cabinet-level positions
(Secretary of) agriculture, commerce, defense, education, energy, health and human services, homeland security, housing and urban development, the interior, labor, state, transportation, the treasury, veterans affairs, attorney general, vice president
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the US?
Terrorists attacked the US
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words?
We the People
*What is the economic system in the US?
capitalist economy, market economy
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances, separation of powers
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights (movement)
Name ONE branch or part of the government
congress, legislative, president, executive, the courts, judicial
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 did Martin Luther King Jr. do?
fought for civil rights/worked for equality for all Americans
Who signs bills to become laws?
the president
who vetoes bills?
the president
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans/ people from Africa
*When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 15
*What is the name of the President of the US now?
Barack Obama (as of 11/18)
Who does a US Senator represent?
all the people of the state
Name ONE right only for US citizens.
vote in a federal election, run for federal office
What are TWO ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because of) the state's population
What are TWO rights of everyone living in the US?
(freedom of) expression, speech, assembly, petitioning government, worship, right to bear arms
What is ONe reason colonists came to America?
(religious) freedom, economic opportunity, political liberty, escape persecution
How many US Senators are there?
100
When was the constitution written?
1787
*How old do citizens have to be to vote for president?
18+
What ocean is on the east coast of the US?
Atlantic ocean
*Who is ONE of your state's US Senators now?
Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin (as of 11/18)
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe ONE of them.
Citizens 18+ 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 makes federal laws?
Congress, Senate and House (of Representatives), (US or national) legislature
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
Constitution was written/founding fathers wrote the constitution
What is the political party of the President now?
Democratic (as of 5/20/14)
*What are the two major political parties in the US?
Democratic, Republican
What did Susan B, Anthony do?
Fought for women's rights, fought for civil rights
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Franklin Roosevelt
What was ONE important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? (3)
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved (or preserved) the union, led the US during the civil war
Who is the "Father of Our country"?
George Washington
Who was the first president?
George Washington
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US constitution. Name ONE of the writers.
James Madison,Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
Who did the US fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, Italy
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
John Boehner (as of 11/18)
Who is the chief justice of the US now?
John G Roberts Jr (as of 5/20/14)
What is the name of the Vice President of the US now?
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (as of 11/18)
*When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
When was the declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
Name your US representative
MD Congressional Dist 6: John K. Delaney (as of 10/18)
*What is the capital of your state
MD- Annapolis
Who is the governor of your state now?
MD: Martin O'Malley (as of 5/20/14)
Name ONE state that borders Canada
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, new York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska
Name ONE of the two longest rivers in the US
Mississippi River, Missouri River
Who lived in America before Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
There were 13 original states. Name THREE. (13)
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Name TWO national US holidays. (10)
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
*Where is the statue of liberty?
New york (Harbour)/Liberty Island/New Jersey/near NYC/on the Hudson (River)
* In what month do we vote for a president?
November
What ocean is on the west coast of the US?
Pacific Ocean
Name ONE US Territory.
Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam
*What are the TWO parts of the US Congress?
Senate and House (of Representatives)
Name ONE problem that led to the civil war.
Slavery, economic reasons, states' rights
what do we call the first ten amendments to the constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The vice president
Who wrote the declaration of independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for (DO NOT SAY $100 BILL!!)? (5)
US diplomat, oldest member of the constitutional convention, first postmaster general of US, writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac", started the first free libraries.
Name ONE war fought in the 1800.
War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War
*What is the capital of the US?
Washington, DC
Who was President during World War I?
Woodrow Wilson
*Name ONE war fought by the US in the 1900s (5)
World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, (Persian) Gulf War
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
What is an amendment?
a change (to the constitution), an addition (to the constitution)
What does the president's Cabinet do?
advises the president
What did the declaration of independence do?
announced our independence (from great Britain), declared our independence (from Great Britain, said that the US is free (from Great Britain)
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
for the current 50 states
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed slaves (in the confederate/southern states)
When must all men register for Selective Service?
from 18 to 26
What is ONE promise you make when you become a US citizen?
give up loyalty to other countries, defend the constitution and laws of the US, obey laws of the US, serve in the US army (if needed), serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed), be loyal to the US
Why did the colonists fight the British?
high taxes (taxation without representation, british army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering), they didn't have self government.
What are TWO rights in the declaration of independence?
life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is ONE power of the states? (5)
provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire depts.), give a driver's license, approve zoning and land use.
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disputes (disagreements), decides if a law goes against the constitution
*What is ONE responsibility that is only for US citizens?
serve on a jury, vote in a federal election
What does the Constitution do?
sets up the government, defines the government, protects basic rights of americans
*What is ONE right or freedom from the First Amendment?
speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the government
What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
the Louisiana Territory/Louisiana
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
the President
If both the president and vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
the Speaker of the House
what is the highest court in the US?
the Supreme Court
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the US, the flag
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is ONE power of the federal government?
to print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties
