Florida Civic Literacy Test Questions

Who was the first President?

▪ (George) Washington

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

▪ (Thomas) Jefferson

Who was President during World War I?

▪ (Woodrow) Wilson

How many U.S. Senators are there?

▪ 100

When was the Constitution written?

▪ 1787

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

▪ American Indians ▪ Native Americans

Name one state that borders Mexico.

▪ California ▪ Arizona ▪ New Mexico ▪ Texas

Who makes federal laws?

▪ Congress ▪ Senate and House (of Representatives) ▪ (U.S. or national) legislature

Name one branch or part of the government.*

▪ Congress ▪ legislative ▪ President ▪ executive ▪ the courts ▪ judicial

What is the name of the President of theUnited States now?*

▪ Donald J Trump

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

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

▪ James Madison ▪ Alexander Hamilton ▪ John Jay ▪ Publius

Who did the United States fight in World War II?

▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

▪ John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

When do we celebrate Independence Day?

▪ July 4

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

▪ July 4, 1776

Name one state that borders Canada.

▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska

Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?*

▪ Marco Rubio

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

▪ Mike Pence

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

▪ Nancy Pelosi

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 two national U.S. holidays.

▪ 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 (Harbor) ▪ Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

In what month do we vote for President?*

▪ November

Name one U.S. territory.

▪ Puerto Rico ▪ U.S. Virgin Islands ▪ American Samoa ▪ Northern Mariana Islands ▪ Guam

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

▪ Secretary of Agriculture ▪ Secretary of Commerce ▪ Secretary of Defense ▪ Secretary of Education ▪ Secretary of Energy ▪ Secretary of Health and Human Services ▪ Secretary of Homeland Security ▪ Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ▪ Secretary of the Interior ▪ Secretary of Labor ▪ Secretary of State ▪ Secretary of Transportation ▪ Secretary of the Treasury ▪ Secretary of Veterans Affairs ▪ Attorney General ▪ Vice President

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

▪ Speech ▪ Religion ▪ Assembly ▪Press ▪ Petition the government

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

▪ The Bill of Rights

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

▪ The Constitution was written. ▪ The Founding Fathers wrote 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

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

▪ The speaker of the House

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

What is the capital of the United States?

▪ Washington, D.C.

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

▪ We the people

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)

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

▪ all people of the state

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

▪ announced our independence (from Great Britain) ▪ declared our independence (from Great Britain) ▪ said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

Why did the colonists fight the British?

▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation) ▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) ▪ because they didn't have self-government

Why does the flag have 50 stars?

▪ because there is one star for each state ▪ because each star represents a state ▪ because there are 50 states

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

▪ because there were 13 original colonies ▪ because the stripes represent the original colonies

What is the economic system in the United States?*

▪ 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)

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

▪ fought for civil rights ▪ worked for equality for all Americans

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

▪ fought for women's rights ▪ fought for civil rights

We elect a President for how many years?

▪ four (4)

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

▪ freed the slaves ▪ freed slaves in the Confederacy ▪ freed slaves in the Confederate states ▪ freed slaves in most Southern states

What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ freedom ▪ political liberty ▪ religious freedom ▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

▪ life ▪ liberty ▪ pursuit of happiness

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

▪ nine (9)

What does the judicial branch do?

▪ reviews laws ▪ explains laws ▪ resolves disputes (disagreements) ▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What does the constitution do?

▪ sets up the government ▪ defines the government ▪ protects basic rights of Americans

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

▪ six (6)

Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery ▪ economic reasons ▪ states' rights

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

▪ the Civil War ▪ the War between the States

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

▪ the President

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

▪ the President

Who signs bills to become laws?

▪ the President

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

What is the highest court in the United States?

▪ the Supreme Court

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

▪ twenty-seven (27)

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

▪ two (2)

Name one right only for United States citizens.

▪ vote in a federal election ▪ run for federal office

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

▪(Franklin) Roosevelt

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

▪(because of) the states population ▪(because) they have more people ▪(because) some states have more people

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

▪18 and older

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

▪435

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 ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

▪Atlantic (ocean)

Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

▪Cherokee ▪Seminole ▪Crow ▪Navajo ▪Sioux ▪Chippewa ▪Choctaw ▪Pueblo ▪Apache ▪Iroquois ▪Creek ▪Blackfeet ▪Cheyenne ▪Arawak ▪Shawnee ▪Mohegan ▪Huron

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

▪Citizen 18 and older ▪ 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)

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

▪Civil war ▪War of 1812 ▪Mexican-American war ▪Spanish-American war

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

▪Communism

What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

▪Democratic and Republican

Name yourU.S. Representative.

▪Donna Shalala

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

▪Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) ▪saved (or preserved) the union ▪led the United States during Civil war

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

▪Freedom of expression ▪Freedom of speech ▪Freedom of assembly ▪Freedom to petition the government ▪Freedom of religion ▪ The right to bear arms

Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

▪George Washington

What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

▪Louisiana ▪The Louisiana Territory

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

▪Missouri (river) ▪Mississippi (River)

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

▪Pacific (ocean)

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

▪Providing schooling and education ▪Provide protection (police) ▪Provide safety (fire departments) ▪Give a driver's license ▪Approve zoning and land use

What is the political party of the President now?

▪Republican Party

Who is the Governor of your state now?

▪Ron DeSantis

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

▪Serve on a jury ▪ vote in a federal election

What is the capital of your state?*

▪Tallahassee

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

▪Terrorists attacked the United States

Who vetoes bills?

▪The President

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

▪The United States ▪The flag

What is the supreme law of the land

▪The constitution

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 one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

▪World War 1 ▪World War 2 ▪Korean war ▪Vietnam war ▪(Persian) Gulf war

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

▪World War 2

What does the President's Cabinet do?

▪advises the President

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

▪at age 18 ▪btw 18 and 26

What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

▪give up loyalty to other countries ▪defend the constitution and laws of the United States ▪Obey the laws of the United States ▪Serve in the U.S military( if needed) ▪Serve (do important work for) the nation ▪ be loyal to the United States

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪vote ▪join a political party ▪help with a campaign ▪join a community group ▪join a civic group ▪run for office ▪write to a newspaper