U.S.A. Citizenship Test (100 Civics Questions) from uscis.gov

1. What is the supreme law of the land?
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Terms in this set (100)
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
4. What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
twenty-seven (27)
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)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?capitalist economy market economy12. 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.13. Name one branch or part of the government.Congress legislative President executive the courts judicial14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?checks and balances separation of powers15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?the President16. Who makes federal laws?Congress Senate and House (of Representatives) (U.S. or national) legislature17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?the Senate and House (of Representatives)18. How many U.S. Senators are there?one hundred (100)19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?six (6)20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?Current Michigan Senators21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?four hundred thirty-five (435)22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?two (2)23. Name your U.S. Representative.Current Michigan House Rep24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?all people of the state25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?(because of) the state's population (because) they have more people (because) some states have more people26. We elect a President for how many years?four (4)27. In what month do we vote for President?November28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?Barack Obama Obama29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Joe Biden Biden30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?the Vice President31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?the Speaker of the House32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?the President33. Who signs bills to become laws?the President34. Who vetoes bills?the President35. What does the President's Cabinet do?advises the President36. 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 President37. What does the judicial branch do?reviews laws explains laws resolves disputes (disagreements) decides if a law goes against the Constitution38. What is the highest court in the United States?the Supreme Court39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?nine (9)40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)41. 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 treaties42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?provide schooling and education provide protection (police) provide safety (fire departments) give a driver's license approve zoning and land use43. Who is the Governor of your state now?Current Governor of Michigan44. What is the capital of your state?Lansing, Michigan45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?Democrat and Republican46. What is the political party of the President now?Democratic (Party)47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?(John) Boehner48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.Citizens eighteen (18) and older (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).49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?serve on a jury vote in a federal election50. Name one right only for United States citizens.vote in a federal election run for federal office51. 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 worship the right to bear arms52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?the United States the flag53. 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 (if needed) be loyal to the United States54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?eighteen (18) and older55. 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 newspaper56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?April 1557. When must all men register for the Selective Service?at age eighteen (18) between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)58. What is one reason colonists came to America?freedom political liberty religious freedom economic opportunity practice their religion escape persecution59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?American Indians Native Americans60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?Africans people from Africa61. 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-government62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?(Thomas) Jefferson63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?July 4, 177664. 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 Georgia65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?The Constitution was written. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.66. When was the Constitution written?178767. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.(James) Madison (Alexander) Hamilton (John) Jay Publius68. 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 libraries69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?(George) Washington70. Who was the first President?(George) Washington71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?the Louisiana Territory Louisiana72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800sWar of 1812 Mexican-American War Civil War Spanish-American War73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.the Civil War the War between the States74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.slavery economic reasons states' rights75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) saved (or preserved) the Union led the United States during the Civil War76. 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 states77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?fought for women's rights fought for civil rights78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War (Persian) Gulf War79. Who was President during World War I?(Woodrow) Wilson80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?(Franklin) Roosevelt81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?Japan, Germany, and Italy82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?World War II83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?Communism84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?civil rights (movement)85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?fought for civil rights worked for equality for all Americans86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?Terrorists attacked the United States.87. 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 Inuit88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United StatesMissouri (River) Mississippi (River)89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?Pacific (Ocean)90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?Atlantic (Ocean)91. Name one U.S. territory.Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam92. Name one state that borders Canada.Maine New Hampshire Vermont New York Pennsylvania Ohio Michigan Minnesota North Dakota Montana Idaho Washington Alaska93. Name one state that borders Mexico.California Arizona New Mexico Texas94. What is the capital of the United States?Washington, D.C.95. 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).]96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?because there were 13 original colonies because the stripes represent the original colonies97. 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 states98. What is the name of the national anthem?The Star-Spangled Banner99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?July 4100. 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