Principles of American Democracy
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Questions and Answers

What prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

  • Separation of powers (correct)
  • Political parties
  • Checks and balances (correct)
  • Federalism

    • How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

  • 435 (correct)
  • 400
  • 450
  • 500

    • For how many years do we elect a U.S. Senator?

  • 4 years
  • 8 years
  • 6 years (correct)
  • 2 years

    • Who is responsible for signing bills into law?

    <p>The President</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who becomes President if both the President and Vice President can no longer serve?

    <p>The Speaker of the House</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the total number of U.S. Senators?

    <p>100</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the monthly duration of a U.S. Representative's elected term?

    <p>2 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the President hold concerning the military?

    <p>Commander in Chief</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one function of the Constitution?

    <p>Defines the government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phrase reflects the idea of self-government as stated in the Constitution?

    <p>'We the People'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What amendment is known as the Bill of Rights?

    <p>The first ten amendments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'freedom of religion' allow citizens to do?

    <p>Practice any religion or none at all</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the economic system in the United States?

    <p>Market economy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many amendments does the Constitution currently have?

    <p>Twenty-seven</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment?

    <p>Freedom of speech</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is implied by the term 'rule of law'?

    <p>Everyone must follow the law</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the President's Cabinet?

    <p>To advise the President</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a Cabinet-level position?

    <p>Chief Justice of the Supreme Court</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one power specifically belonging to the federal government?

    <p>Print money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendment addresses the voting age in the United States?

    <p>The 26th Amendment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of government reviews laws to determine their constitutionality?

    <p>Judicial branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the highest court in the United States?

    <p>Supreme Court</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two political parties are considered the major parties in the United States?

    <p>Democratic and Republican</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is a power that belongs to the states under the Constitution?

    <p>Provide schooling and education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Martin Luther King, Jr. primarily advocate for?

    <p>Civil rights for all Americans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major terrorist event occurred in the U.S. on September 11, 2001?

    <p>Attack on World Trade Center</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is one of the two longest rivers in the United States?

    <p>Mississippi River</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Pacific Ocean</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the American flag have 50 stars?

    <p>Because there are 50 states in the country</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the capital of the United States?

    <p>Washington, D.C.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When is Independence Day celebrated in the United States?

    <p>July 4</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which U.S. territory is known for its tropical climate and beaches?

    <p>Guam</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one significant outcome of the Constitutional Convention?

    <p>The Constitution was written.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which prominent figure is known as the 'Father of Our Country'?

    <p>George Washington</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

    <p>To support the passage of the U.S. Constitution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key legislation did Abraham Lincoln sign that aimed to free slaves?

    <p>The Emancipation Proclamation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which U.S. war was fought between the North and the South?

    <p>The Civil War</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president was in office during the Great Depression?

    <p>Franklin D. Roosevelt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major concern dominated U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?

    <p>Communism</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>The Louisiana Territory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Principles of American Democracy

    • The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
    • It establishes the government, defines its structure, and safeguards basic rights.
    • The phrase "We the People" emphasizes the concept of self-government.
    • An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution.
    • The first ten amendments collectively are known as the Bill of Rights.
    • The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and the right to petition the government.
    • The Constitution has 27 Amendments.
    • The Declaration of Independence declared the United States' freedom from Great Britain, asserting its independence.
    • It asserts fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
    • Freedom of religion means you can practice any religion or not practice a religion.
    • The United States operates on a capitalist or market economy.
    • "Rule of Law" signifies that everyone, including leaders and the government, must adhere to the law, preventing anyone from being above it.

    System of Government

    • The United States government has three branches: Congress (legislative), the President (executive), and the courts (judicial).
    • Checks and balances and the separation of powers prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
    • The President heads the executive branch.
    • Congress, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, makes federal laws.
    • The Senate has 100 members, with each state having two senators.
    • Senators serve six-year terms.
    • The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, with the number for each state determined by the state's population.
    • Representatives serve two-year terms.
    • The President is elected every four years in November.
    • If the President cannot serve, the Vice President becomes President.
    • If both the President and Vice President are unable to serve, the Speaker of the House takes over.
    • The President is the Commander in Chief of the military.
    • The President signs bills into law and can veto bills.
    • The President's Cabinet advises the President.
    • The Cabinet consists of various positions, including the 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, and the Attorney General.
    • The judicial branch reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disagreements, and decides if laws are constitutional.
    • The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.
    • The number of Supreme Court justices can change.
    • Some powers belong to the federal government, including the power to print money, declare war, create an army, and make treaties.
    • States also hold certain powers, such as providing schooling and education, protection (police), safety (fire departments), driver's licenses, and zoning and land use approval.
    • The United States has two major political parties: the Democratic and Republican parties.

    Rights and Responsibilities

    • Citizens 18 years or older can vote.
    • The 13 original colonies were: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

    Important Historical Information

    • The Constitution was written in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention.
    • The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay (also known collectively as Publius), advocated for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
    • Benjamin Franklin is renowned for his contributions as a U.S. diplomat, the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, the first Postmaster General of the United States, author of "Poor Richard's Almanac", and founder of the first free libraries.
    • George Washington is known as the "Father of Our Country" and was the first President.

    1800s

    • In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France.
    • Wars fought in the 1800s include: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.
    • The Civil War, also known as the War Between the States, was a conflict between the North and South.
    • Contributing factors to the Civil War included slavery, economic differences, and states' rights.
    • Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation, saved the Union, and led the United States during the Civil War.
    • The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate states, but did not affect slavery in other states.
    • Susan B. Anthony was a prominent figure in the fight for women's and civil rights.

    Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

    • Major wars fought by the United States in the 1900s include: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War.
    • Woodrow Wilson was President during World War I.
    • Franklin Roosevelt served as President during the Great Depression and World War II.
    • The United States fought against Japan, Germany, and Italy in World War II.
    • Dwight Eisenhower, a general in World War II, later became President.
    • Communism was the primary concern for the United States during the Cold War.
    • The civil rights movement aimed to eliminate racial discrimination.
    • Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader in the civil rights movement, advocating for equality for all Americans.
    • On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States.
    • Federally recognized American Indian tribes in the United States include the Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet, Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan, Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, and Inuit.

    Geography

    • The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are among the two longest rivers in the United States.
    • The Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast of the United States.
    • The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast of the United States.
    • U.S. territories include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
    • Several states border Canada, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
    • States bordering Mexico include California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
    • Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States.
    • The Statue of Liberty is located in New York Harbor (Liberty Island), also acceptable answers include New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson River.

    Symbols

    • The U.S. flag has 13 stripes to represent the 13 original colonies.
    • Each of the 50 stars on the flag represents a state.
    • The national anthem is called "The Star-Spangled Banner".

    Holidays

    • Independence Day is celebrated on July 4.
    • National U.S. holidays include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

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