Civics Test for Citizenship

Civics Test for CitizenshipCivics Test for Citizenship

History and Government100 Questions

www.elcivics.com Civics History and Government Test for Citizenship

Question 1Question 1

WhatWhat is the supreme law of is the supreme law of the land?the land?

the Constitution



WhatWhat does the Constitution does the Constitution do?do?

sets up the government



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

We the People



What is an amendment?What is an amendment?

a change to the Constitution



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

the Bill of Rights



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

speech, religion, assembly, press, petition

the government



How many amendments does How many amendments does the Constitution have?the Constitution have?

twenty-seven (27)



What did the Declaration of What did the Declaration of Independence do?Independence do?

announced our independence from Great

Britain



What are two rights in the What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?Declaration of Independence?

life, liberty, pursuit of happiness



What is freedom of religion?What is freedom of religion?

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.



What is the economic system What is the economic system in the United States?in the United States?

capitalist economy



What is the “rule of law”?What is the “rule of law”?

Everyone must follow the law. No one is above the law.



Name one branch or part of the Name one branch or part of the government.government.

Congress—legislative

President—executive

Courts—judicial



What stops What stops oneone branch of branch of government from becoming government from becoming too powerful?too powerful?

checks and balances

separation of powers



Who is in charge of the Who is in charge of the executive branch?executive branch?

the President



Who makes federal laws?Who makes federal laws?

Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)



What are What are twotwo parts of the U.S. parts of the U.S. Congress?Congress?

the Senate

the House of Representatives



How many U.S. Senators are How many U.S. Senators are there?there?

one hundred (100)



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

six (6)



Who is one of your state’s U.S. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators?Senators?

(answers will vary)



The House of Representative The House of Representative has how many voting has how many voting members?members?

four hundred thirty-five (435)



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

two (2)



Name your U.S. Representative?Name your U.S. Representative?

(answers will vary)



Who does a U.S. Who does a U.S. Representative represent?Representative represent?

all the people of the state



Why do some states have more Why do some states have more Representatives than other Representatives than other states?states?

because some states have more people



We elect a President for how We elect a President for how many years?many years?

four (4)



In what month do we vote for In what month do we vote for President?President?

November



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

Barack Obama



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

Joe Biden



If the President can no longer If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?serve, who becomes President?

the Vice President



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

the Speaker of the House



Who is the Commander and Who is the Commander and Chief of the military?Chief of the military?

the President



Who signs bills to become Who signs bills to become law?law?

the President



Who vetoes bills?Who vetoes bills?

the President



What does the President’s What does the President’s Cabinet do?Cabinet do?

advises the President



What are two Cabinet-level What are two Cabinet-level positions?positions?

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Education



What does the judicial branch What does the judicial branch do?do?

reviews laws



What is the highest court in the What is the highest court in the United States?United States?

the Supreme Court



How many justices are on the How many justices are on the Supreme Court?Supreme Court?

nine (9)



Who is the Chief Justice of the Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?United States?

John G. Roberts, Jr.



Under our Constitution, some Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal powers belong to the federal government. What is government. What is oneone power of power of the federal government?the federal government?

to print money, to declare war, to create an army, to

make treaties



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

provide schooling and educationprovide protection (police)provide safety (fire department)give a driver's licenseapprove zoning and land use



Who is the Governor of your Who is the Governor of your state?state?

(answers will vary)



What is the capital of your What is the capital of your state?state?

(answers will vary)



What are the two major What are the two major political parties in the United political parties in the United Sates?Sates?

Democratic and Republican



What is the political party of What is the political party of the President now?the President now?

Democratic Party



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

Nancy Pelosi



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

Citizens 18 and older can vote.

You don’t have to pay to vote.

Any citizen can vote. (men and women)

A male citizen of any race can vote.



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

serve on a jury

vote



What are two rights only for What are two rights only for United States citizens?United States citizens?

apply for a federal job, vote, run for office, carry

a U.S. passport



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

freedom of expression freedom to petition the government

freedom of speech freedom of worship

freedom of assembly the right to bear arms



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

the United States

the flag



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

give up loyalty to other countries

serve in the U.S. military (if needed)

defend the Constitution and laws of the United States

serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)

obey the laws of the United States

be loyal to the United States



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

eighteen (18) and older



What are two ways that Americans What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?can participate in their democracy?vote give an elected official your

opinion on an issuejoin a political party call Senators and

Representativeshelp with a campaign publicly support or oppose

an issue or policyjoin a civic group run for officejoin a community group write to a newspaper



When is the last day you can When is the last day you can send in federal income tax send in federal income tax forms?forms?

April 15



When must all men register for When must all men register for the Selective Service?the Selective Service?

at age eighteen (18)

between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)



What is one reason colonists What is one reason colonists came to America?came to America?

freedom economic opportunity

political liberty practice their religion

religious freedom escape persecution



Who lived in America before Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?the Europeans arrived?

Native Americans

American Indians



What group of people was What group of people was taken to America and sold as taken to America and sold as slaves?slaves?

Africans

people from Africa



Why did the colonists fight the Why did the colonists fight the British?British?

because of high taxesbecause the British army stayed in their homesbecause they didn’t have self-government



Who wrote the Declaration of Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?Independence?

Thomas Jefferson



When was the Declaration of When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776



There were 13 original states. Name There were 13 original states. Name three.three.

New Hampshire New York Maryland

Massachusetts New Jersey Virginia

Rhode Island Pennsylvania North CarolinaSouth Carolina

Connecticut Delaware Georgia



What happened at the What happened at the Constitutional Convention?Constitutional Convention?

The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.



When was the Constitution When was the Constitution written?written?

1787



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

James Madison John Jay

Alexander Hamilton Publius



What is one thing Benjamin What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?Franklin is famous for?

U.S. diplomat writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”

oldest member of the Constitutional Convention

started the first free librariesfirst Postmaster General of the United States



Who is the “Father of Our Who is the “Father of Our Country?”Country?”

George Washington



Who was the first President?Who was the first President?

George Washington



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

the Louisiana Territory



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

War of 1812

Mexican-American War

Civil War



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

the Civil War



Name one problem that led to Name one problem that led to the Civil War.the Civil War.

slavery

economic reasons

states’ rights



What was one important thing What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?that Abraham Lincoln did?

freed the slavessaved the Unionled the United States during the Civil War



What did the Emancipation What did the Emancipation proclamation do?proclamation do?

freed the slaves



What did Susan B. Anthony What did Susan B. Anthony do?do?

fought for women’s rights

fought for civil rights



Name one war fought by the Name one war fought by the United States during the 1900’s.United States during the 1900’s.

World War I Vietnam War

World War II Persian Gulf War

Korean War (Afghanistan and Iraq War)



Who was President during Who was President during World War I?World War I?

Woodrow Wilson



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

Franklin Roosevelt



Who did the United States fight Who did the United States fight during World War II?during World War II?

Japan, Germany, and Italy



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

World War II



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

Communism



What movement tried to end What movement tried to end racial discrimination?racial discrimination?

the civil rights movement



What did Martin Luther King, What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?Jr. do?

fought for civil rights

worked of equality for all Americans



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

Terrorists attacked the United States.



Name one American Indian tribe Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.in the United States.

Cherokee Choctaw Creek Arawak

Navajo Pueblo Blackfoot Shawnee

Sioux Apache Seminole Mohegan

Chippwea Iroquois Cheyenne Huron



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

Mississippi River

Missouri River



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

Pacific Ocean



What ocean is on the East What ocean is on the East coast of the United States?coast of the United States?

Atlantic Ocean



Name one U.S. territory.Name one U.S. territory.

Puerto RicoU.S. Virgin IslandsAmerican Samoa

Northern Mariana IslandsGuam



Name one state that boarders Name one state that boarders Canada.Canada.

Maine MinnesotaNew Hampshire North DakotaVermont MontanaNew York IdahoPennsylvania WashingtonOhio AlaskaMichigan



Name one state that borders Name one state that borders Mexico.Mexico.

CaliforniaArizona

New MexicoTexas



What is the capital of the What is the capital of the United States?United States?

Washington, D.C.



Where is the Statue of Liberty?Where is the Statue of Liberty?

New York Harbor

Liberty Island



Why does the flag have 13 Why does the flag have 13 stripes?stripes?

because there were 13 original colonies



Why does the flag have 50 Why does the flag have 50 stars?stars?

because there is one star for each state



What is the name of the What is the name of the national anthem?national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner



When do we celebrate When do we celebrate Independence Day?Independence Day?

July 4



Name two national U.S. holidays.Name two national U.S. holidays.

New Year’s Day Labor Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Columbus Day

Presidents’ Day Veterans Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Independence Day Christmas

The EndThe End

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