All Questions & Answers
128 total questions from the U.S. civics test.
What is the form of government of the United States?
➜ Republic
➜ Constitution-based federal republic
➜ Representative democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?
➜ U.S. Constitution
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
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?
➜ Self-government
➜ Popular sovereignty
➜ Consent of the governed
➜ People should govern themselves
➜ (Example of) social contract
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
➜ Amendments
➜ The amendment process
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
➜ The basic rights of Americans
➜ The basic rights of people living in the United States
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
➜ Twenty-seven (27)
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
➜ It says America is free from British control.
➜ It says all people are created equal.
➜ It identifies inherent rights.
➜ It identifies individual freedoms.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
➜ Declaration of Independence
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
➜ Equality
➜ Liberty
➜ Social contract
➜ Natural rights
➜ Limited government
➜ Self-government
What is the economic system of the United States?
➜ Capitalism
➜ Free market economy
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
Name one branch or part of the government.
➜ Congress
➜ President
➜ The courts
➜ Legislative branch
➜ Executive branch
➜ Judicial branch
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
➜ Checks and balances
➜ Separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
➜ The President of the United States
Who makes federal laws?
➜ Congress
➜ Senate and House
➜ U.S. legislature
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
➜ Senate
➜ House of Representatives
How many U.S. senators are there?
➜ One hundred (100)
We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?
➜ Six (6)
Who elects U.S. senators?
➜ Citizens from their state
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
➜ Four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a U.S. representative for how many years?
➜ Two (2)
Name your U.S. representative.
➜ Answers will vary depending on the state and district.
➜ Find your representative at www.house.gov
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
➜ All people of the state
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
➜ To more closely follow public opinion
➜ To ensure representatives stay accountable to the people
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
➜ Four (4)
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
➜ Because of the 22nd Amendment
Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
➜ The President
Who signs bills to become laws?
➜ The President
Who vetoes bills?
➜ The President
Who appoints federal judges?
➜ The President
What is the highest court in the United States?
➜ The Supreme Court
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
➜ Nine (9)
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
➜ For life
➜ They serve during good behavior
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
➜ James Madison
➜ Alexander Hamilton
➜ John Jay
What is one reason colonists came to America?
➜ Freedom
➜ Political liberty
➜ Religious freedom
➜ Economic opportunity
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
➜ American Indians
➜ Native Americans
What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
➜ Africans
➜ People from Africa
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
➜ Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
➜ July 4, 1776
Where was the Constitution written?
➜ Philadelphia
When was the Constitution written?
➜ 1787
The Federalist Papers supporting the U.S. Constitution were written by three men. Name one of them.
➜ James Madison
➜ Alexander Hamilton
➜ John Jay
Why does the U.S. flag have 13 stripes?
➜ Because there were 13 original colonies
➜ The stripes represent the 13 original colonies
Why does the U.S. flag have 50 stars?
➜ Because there is one star for each state
➜ Each star represents a state
What is the name of the national anthem?
➜ The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
➜ July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
➜ New Year’s Day
➜ Martin Luther King Jr. Day
➜ Presidents Day
➜ Memorial Day
➜ Juneteenth
➜ Independence Day
➜ Labor Day
➜ Columbus Day
➜ Veterans Day
➜ Thanksgiving
➜ Christmas
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
➜ The Louisiana Territory
➜ Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
➜ War of 1812
➜ Mexican-American War
➜ Civil War
➜ Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
➜ The Civil War
➜ The War Between the States
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
➜ Slavery
➜ Economic reasons
➜ States’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
➜ Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
➜ Saved the Union
➜ Led the United States during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
➜ Freed the slaves in the Confederacy
➜ Freed slaves in the Confederate states
➜ Freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
➜ Fought for women’s rights
➜ Fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s.
➜ World War I
➜ World War II
➜ Korean War
➜ Vietnam War
➜ Gulf War
Who was President during World War I?
➜ Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
➜ Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
➜ Japan
➜ Germany
➜ Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
➜ World War II
Who was President during the Cold War?
➜ Answers will vary (for example: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan)
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 major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
➜ Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
➜ Cherokee
➜ Navajo
➜ Sioux
➜ Chippewa
➜ Choctaw
➜ Pueblo
➜ Apache
➜ Iroquois
➜ Creek
➜ Blackfeet
➜ Seminole
➜ Cheyenne
➜ Arawak
➜ Shawnee
➜ Mohegan
➜ Huron
➜ Oneida
➜ Lakota
➜ Crow
➜ Teton
➜ Hopi
➜ Inuit
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
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
➜ Atlantic Ocean
Name one U.S. territory.
➜ Puerto Rico
➜ U.S. Virgin Islands
➜ American Samoa
➜ Northern Mariana Islands
➜ Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
➜ Maine
➜ New Hampshire
➜ Vermont
➜ New York
➜ Pennsylvania
➜ Ohio
➜ Michigan
➜ Minnesota
➜ North Dakota
➜ Montana
➜ Idaho
➜ Washington
➜ Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico.
➜ California
➜ Arizona
➜ New Mexico
➜ Texas
What is the capital of the United States?
➜ Washington, D.C.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
➜ New York Harbor
➜ Liberty Island
➜ Near New York City
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
➜ Because there were 13 original colonies
➜ The stripes represent the original colonies
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
➜ Because there is one star for each state
➜ Each star represents a state
What is the name of the national anthem?
➜ The Star-Spangled Banner
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
➜ July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
➜ New Year’s Day
➜ Martin Luther King Jr. Day
➜ Presidents Day
➜ Memorial Day
➜ Juneteenth
➜ Independence Day
➜ Labor Day
➜ Columbus Day
➜ Veterans Day
➜ Thanksgiving
➜ Christmas
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
➜ The United States
➜ The flag
When do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
➜ The fourth Thursday in November
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
➜ Serve on a jury
➜ Vote in a federal election
Name one right only for United States citizens.
➜ Vote in a federal election
➜ Run for federal office
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
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
➜ The United States
➜ The flag
Name 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
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
➜ Eighteen (18) and older
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
➜ Call Senators and Representatives
➜ Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
➜ Run for office
➜ Write to a newspaper
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
➜ April 15
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
➜ At age eighteen (18)
➜ Between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
What is one reason colonists came to America?
➜ Freedom
➜ Political liberty
➜ Religious freedom
➜ Economic opportunity
➜ To escape persecution
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
➜ Native Americans
➜ American Indians
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
➜ Africans
➜ People from Africa
Why did the colonists fight the British?
➜ Because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
➜ Because the British army stayed in their houses
➜ Because the colonists didn’t have self-government
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
➜ Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
➜ July 4, 1776
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
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
➜ The Constitution was written
➜ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
When was the Constitution written?
➜ 1787
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
➜ James Madison
➜ Alexander Hamilton
➜ John Jay
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
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
➜ George Washington
Who was the first President?
➜ George Washington
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
➜ The Louisiana Territory
➜ Louisiana
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
➜ War of 1812
➜ Mexican-American War
➜ Civil War
➜ Spanish-American War
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
➜ The Civil War
➜ The War Between the States
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
➜ Slavery
➜ Economic reasons
➜ States’ rights
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
➜ Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
➜ Saved the Union
➜ Led the U.S. during the Civil War
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
➜ Freed the slaves in the Confederacy
➜ Freed slaves in the Confederate states
➜ Freed slaves in most Southern states
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
➜ Fought for women’s rights
➜ Fought for civil rights
Name one war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s.
➜ World War I
➜ World War II
➜ Korean War
➜ Vietnam War
➜ Gulf War
Who was President during World War I?
➜ Woodrow Wilson
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
➜ Franklin Roosevelt
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
➜ Japan
➜ Germany
➜ Italy
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
➜ World War II
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
➜ Communism
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 major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
➜ Terrorists attacked the United States
What is 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
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
➜ Atlantic Ocean
Name one U.S. territory.
➜ Puerto Rico
➜ U.S. Virgin Islands
➜ American Samoa
➜ Northern Mariana Islands
➜ Guam
Name one state that borders Canada.
➜ Maine
➜ New Hampshire
➜ Vermont
➜ New York
➜ Pennsylvania
➜ Ohio
➜ Michigan
➜ Minnesota
➜ North Dakota
➜ Montana
➜ Idaho
➜ Washington
➜ Alaska
Name one state that borders Mexico.
➜ California
➜ Arizona
➜ New Mexico
➜ Texas
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
➜ July 4
Name two national U.S. holidays.
➜ New Year’s Day
➜ Martin Luther King Jr. Day
➜ Presidents Day
➜ Memorial Day
➜ Juneteenth
➜ Independence Day
➜ Labor Day
➜ Columbus Day
➜ Veterans Day
➜ Thanksgiving
➜ Christmas
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
➜ The United States
➜ The flag
When do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
➜ The fourth Thursday in November