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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.
 
There are three branches of government. Why?
So, one part does not become too powerful
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
 
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial
Congress, president, and the courts
 
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
 
What part of the federal government writes laws?
(U.S.) Congress
(U.S. or national) legislature
Legislative branch
 
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House (of Representatives)
 
Name one power of the U.S. Congress. *
Writes laws
Declares war
Makes the federal budget
 
How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100)
 
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years
 
Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. senators.]
 
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
 
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years
 
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion
 
How many senators does each state have?
Two (2)
 
Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation (for small states)
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
 
Name your U.S. representative.
Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide
the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting)
representatives in Congress.]
 
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? *
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/test updates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
 
Who does a U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state
People of their state
 
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
 
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their (congressional) district
Citizens in their district
People from their (congressional) district
People in their district
 
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their (congressional) district
 
Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
the state’s population
they have more people
some states have more people
 
The President of the United States is elected for how many years? *
Four (4) years
 
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
Due to  the 22nd Amendment
To keep the president from becoming too powerful
 
What is the name of the President of the United States now? *
Biden
 
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? *
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.
 
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President (of the United States)
 
Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law
Vetoes bills
Enforces laws
Commander in Chief (of the military)
Chief diplomat
 
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President (of the United States)
 
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President (of the United States)
 
Who vetoes bills? *
The President (of the United States)
 
Who appoints federal judges?
The President (of the United States)
 
The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
President (of the United States)
Cabinet
Federal departments and agencies
 
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
Advises the President (of the United States)
 
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General
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
Vice President (of the United States)
 
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president.
It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
 
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court
Federal Courts
 
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
 
What is the highest court in the United States? *
Supreme Court
 
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
 
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5)
 
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
(For) life
Lifetime appointment
(Until) retirement
 
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent (of politics)
To limit outside (political) influence
 
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.
 
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money
Mint coins
Declare war
Create an army
Make treaties
Set foreign policy
 
Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver’s license
Approve zoning and land use
 
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
 
Who is the governor of your state now? *
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]
 
What is the capital of your state?
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a
capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.
 
There are four amendments to the U.S. 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).
 
Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?
Citizens
Citizens of the United States
U.S. citizens
 
What are three 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 two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
Give up loyalty to other countries
Defend the (U.S.) Constitution
Obey the laws of the United States
Serve in the military (if needed)
Serve (help, do important work for) the nation (if needed)
Be loyal to the United States
 
How can people become United States citizens?
Naturalize
Derive citizenship
Be born in the United States
 
What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?
Vote
Run for office
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)
Contact elected officials
Support or oppose an issue or policy
Write to a newspaper
 
What is one-way Americans can serve their country?
Vote
Pay taxes
Obey the law
Serve in the military
Run for office
Work for local, state, or federal government
 
Why is it important to pay federal taxes?
Required by law
All people pay to fund the federal government
Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment)
Civic duty
 
It is important for all men age 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service. Name one reason why.
Required by law
Civic duty
Makes the draft fair, if needed
 
The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Freedom
Political liberty
Religious freedom
Economic opportunity
Escape persecution
 
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
 
What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
American Revolution
The (American) Revolutionary War
War for (American) Independence
 
Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
High taxes
Taxation without representation
British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses (boarding, quartering)
They did not have self-government
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party (Tea Act)
Stamp Act
Sugar Act
Townshend Acts
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
 
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? *
(Thomas) Jefferson
 
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
 
The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Bunker Hill
Declaration of Independence
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
(Battle of) Saratoga
Valley Forge (Encampment)
(Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)
 
There were 13 original states. Name five.
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
 
Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.
Founded the first free public libraries
First Postmaster General of the United States
Helped write the Declaration of Independence
Inventor
U.S. diplomat
 
George Washington is famous for many things. Name one. *
“Father of Our Country”
First president of the United States
General of the Continental Army
President of the Constitutional Convention
 
Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.
Writer of the Declaration of Independence
Third president of the United States
Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase)
First Secretary of State
Founded the University of Virginia
Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom
 
James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
“Father of the Constitution”
Fourth president of the United States
President during the War of 1812
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
 
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.
First Secretary of the Treasury
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
Helped establish the First Bank of the United States
Aide to General George Washington
Member of the Continental Congress
   
1800s
 
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
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 Civil War had many important events. Name one.
(Battle of) Fort Sumter
Emancipation Proclamation
(Battle of) Vicksburg
(Battle of) Gettysburg
Sherman’s March
(Surrender at) Appomattox
(Battle of) Antietam/Sharpsburg
Lincoln was assassinated.
 
Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. *
Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
Saved (or preserved) the Union
Led the United States during the Civil War
16th president of the United States
Delivered the Gettysburg Address
 
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 U.S. war ended slavery?
The Civil War
 
When did all men get the right to vote?
After the Civil War
During Reconstruction
(With the) 15th Amendment
1870
 
Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Susan B. Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
Lucretia Mott
Lucy Stone
   
Recent American History
 
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
 
Why did the United States enter World War I?
Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia)
To oppose the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria)
 
When did all women get the right to vote?
1920
After World War I
(With the) 19th Amendment
 
What was the Great Depression?
Longest economic recession in modern history
 
When did the Great Depression start?
The Great Crash (1929)
Stock market crash of 1929
 
Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
 
Why did the United States enter World War II?
(Bombing of) Pearl Harbor
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
To support the Allied Powers (England, France, and Russia)
To oppose the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan)
 
Dwight Eisenhower is famous for many things. Name one.
General during World War II
President at the end of (during) the Korean War
34th president of the United States
Signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Created the Interstate System)
 
Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War?
Soviet Union
USSR
Russia
 
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States?
Communism
Nuclear war
 
Why did the United States enter the Korean War?
To stop the spread of communism
 
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?
To stop the spread of communism
 
What did the civil rights movement do?
Fought to end racial discrimination
 
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. *
Fought for civil rights
Worked for equality for all Americans
Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content
of their character”
 
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?
To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
 
What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? *
Terrorists attacked the United States
Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City
Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania
 
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
(Global) War on Terror
War in Afghanistan
War in Iraq
 
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
Apache
Blackfeet
Cayuga
Cherokee
Cheyenne
Chippewa
Choctaw
Creek
Crow
Hopi
Huron
Inupiat
Lakota
Mohawk
Mohegan
Navajo
Oneida
Onondaga
Pueblo
Seminole
Seneca
Shawnee
Sioux
Teton
Tuscarora
   
SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS
 
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, D.C.
 
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).]
 
Why does the flag have 13 stripes? *
(Because there were) 13 original colonies
(Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
 
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
 
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
 
The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
Out of many, one
We all become one
 
What is Independence Day?
A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
The country’s birthday
 
Name three national U.S. holidays. *
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
 
What is Memorial Day?
A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
 
What is Veterans Day?
A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military
A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)
 
Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form of government?
Roman
 
During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their government between two assemblies and guaranteed certain
political rights to all male citizens. How do these political reforms best illustrate how societies develop?
by limiting government authority
 
A certain country is characterized by the following traits:
power achieved through inheritance
The establishment and maintenance of these traits is based on which of the following principles?
Divine right of kings
 
Which modern democratic concept practiced in the United States is most like the democratic process of ancient Greece?
the referendum
 
What is the principal function of a written constitution?
outlining the structure and powers of a government
 
Which of the following objectives best describes the purpose of the system of checks and balances, as defined in the U.S. Constitution?
keeping any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful
 
Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks?
electing governors
 
Laws against defamation, including libel and slander, property damage and breach of contract represent which legal concern underlying most Western nations?
civil law
 
Use the passage below, from an exchange between former president Nixon and a television interviewer, to answer the question that follows.
"Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal"-Richard M. Nixon
Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict?
rule of law
 
Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?
Republic
 
The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
providing for the common defense
 
Which circumstance would require a search warrant?
examining the contents of a hotel room
 
In the United States, which of the following is permitted to citizens by the right of freedom of assembly?
the right to demonstrate
 
A man is walking down a public street window shopping (gazing at store window displays).
A robbery is reposted in that same area. Police officers stop and search the man. He could contest this search on the grounds that it
was a violation of his rights under the
4th amendment
 
In the United States, how are conflicts between state laws and federal laws generally resolved?
The conflict must be resolved using the Supremacy Clause.
 
A suspect is accused of a crime in one state and flees to another state where they are apprehended. The state is very slow in returning the
suspect to the state of origin and keeps them imprisoned.
petition for a writ of habeas corpus
 
Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?
the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation
 
At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states and small states about representation in the new Congress.  This debate was resolved by the Great Compromise. What was the result of this compromise?
Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.
 
Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of the Watergate break-in?
resignation of the president of the United States
 
Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation?
Interstate Commerce Act
 
A state that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies is practicing a form of:
direct democracy
 
An individual's belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does is:
political efficacy
 
The principle that authority of the government rests in the hands of the people is:
popular sovereignty
 
The "rule of law" is best described as:
citizens are governed by laws; no one is above the law
 
In the U.S., voters chose representatives from the state to represent them in the U.S. Congress. This is known as:
indirect democracy
 
Which of the following are reserved for U.S. citizens only?
voting, serving on a jury, and holding federal office
 
Which of the following best are the two dominant political parties in the U.S.
Democrats and Republicans
 
In general, the Republican party is ideologically
conservative
 
Who is responsible for registering voters in the state of Florida?
a county supervisor of elections
 
Who is the chief executive in a state?
the governor
 
Congress creates laws, but those laws can be vetoed by the president or overturned by the Supreme Court.
This is an example of a Constitutional principle known as:
Checks and Balances
 
Articles one, two, and three in the Constitution reflect which constitutional principle:
separation of powers
 
The concept of self-government can be found in:
the preamble beginning with "we the people"
 
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'rule of law':
No one is above the law, including government and elected officials.
 
Which of the following best describes federalism:
a dual system of sovereignty where both national and state governments have authority.
 
During the ratification process of the Constitution, two major camps emerged: the _______ who opposed ratification,
and ______ who supported its ratification.
Anti-Federalists, Federalists
 
The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution because they were afraid that the new
national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties. They favored all of the following EXCEPT:
the indirect election of government officials
 
To appease some of the fears of the Anti-Federalists and to ensure the ratification of the Constitution,
the Federalists promised that they would:
add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties
 
The power of government to take private property for public use is called:
eminent domain
 
The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes. After an election a group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the President.
Electoral College
 
Introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress - upper house called Senate with each state getting 2 votes & a lower house called the House of Representatives with each state's representation based on its population--satisfied both the large and small states
Great Compromise
 
is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain powers
Federalism
 
system of each branch of gov't having a power to check the power of the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful
Checks and Balances
 
headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members
Executive Branch
 
a statute in draft before it becomes law
Bill
 
the judge who presides over the supreme court
Chief Justice
 
The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed forces of the United States.
Commander-in-Chief
 
highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Governor
 
powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an education system, creating local governments
Reserved powers
 
presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
Veto power
 
The order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy.
presidential succession
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House of Representatives
3. President of the Senate Pro Tempore
 
9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law
U.S. Supreme Court
 
A series of acts passed by the government in response to the Boston Tea Party. They caused outrage, as the colonists viewed the acts as a violation of their rights. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War.
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts
 
Demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a protest against taxes on tea.
Boston Tea Party
 
Rights & responsibilities entitled to citizens belonging to a political state or country; only citizens can run for federal office (i.e. President, Congress)
Citizenship
 
The meeting of state delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation which produced the new U.S. Constitution
Constitutional Convention
 
An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections. Our two major parties are the Republicans and the Democrats.
Two-Party System
 
A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.
Civic Duty
 
Clause of the Constitution that says the Constitution is the highest law of the land. Article 6, Clause 2
Supremacy Clause
 
Powers shared by the state and federal government.
concurrent powers
 
powers specifically stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution as being granted to Congress Ex: power to establish post offices, power to regulate commerce
delegated powers
 
Clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out powers not expressly stated but necessary; cited in the Supreme Court landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
 
The powers Congress has that are specifically stated in the Constitution
enumerated/expressed/delegated powers
 
The powers Congress has that are not specifically stated in the Constitution
implied powers
 
The branch of government that interprets the law; made up the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts
Judicial Branch
 
The branch that makes the laws; This is the branch the founders gave the most powers to because it is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people.
Legislative Branch (Congress)
 
The power lies with the people
popular sovereignty
 
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President who is the President of the Senate
President pro tempore of the Senate
 
The lower legislative house of Congress; number of representatives from each state is based on population and each representative is elected by a district in their state; members serve 2 year terms
House of Representatives
 
The upper house of the United States Congress with 100 members-2 from each state; Senators serve 6 year terms and represent all of their state's citizens
Senate
 
Part of the first amendment explaining that you have the freedom to practice any religion of your choice
Free Exercise Clause
 
The type of government where power is derived from the people and the people elect representation
democracy
 
Document written by English Parliament in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; parts of the U.S. Bill of Rights have foundation in that document
English Bill of Rights
 
The rights people have by the virtue of being human beings; both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution address the government's role in protecting these rights
natural rights
 
No one is above the law; Everyone must follow the laws, regardless of their position of power. This was established by the Magna Carta in 1215.
Rule of law
 
The fair treatment through the normal judicial system
due process of law
 
The pamphlet that advocated for the colonies declaring independence from Britain; supported the need for a democratic government where the people had representation
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
 
The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, but will give up some freedom to give power to the government so that the government can protect their rights.
Social Contract Theory
 
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution the supreme law of the land and states that states cannot pass laws that conflict with federal laws.
Supremacy Clause
 
Head of a city's government elected by the people who are citizens of that city
Mayor
 
movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s to establish civil rights
Civil Rights Movement
 
law requiring men to register for military service
Selective Service Act
 
war between Great Britain and its American colonies, by which the colonies won their independence
American Revolution
 
Compromise made when writing the Constitution to satisfy both free and slave states; said for every 5 slaves,
3 would count in a state's population for both representation and tax purposes
3/5 Compromise
 
A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
impeachment
 
the opening section of the Constitution; brief introductory statement of the fundamental purposes and guiding principles that the Constitution is meant to serve
Preamble to the Constitution
 
the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House of Representatives
 
This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776 establishing the 13 American colonies as independent states, free from rule by Great Britain. The preamble (first section) lists our unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Declaration of Independence
 
The idea that our government derives its power from the people because
we elect representatives to the legislative branch of government
consent of the governed
 
Commander & Chief of Army, Navy, State Militia?   
The President
 
Naturalization laws are enacted by?
The Congress
 
How are the seats in the House of Representatives apportioned? What is the number of House members?
The seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states by population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years. 435 members.
 
Amendments can be proposed by?
Amendments to the Constitution can be proposed by a 2/3rds vote of both houses or by 2/3rds of the state legislatures.
An amendment is ratified by approval of 3/4ths of the state legislatures or by convention in 3/4ths of the states.
 
Who can declare war?
Only Congress.
 
Who is President of the Senate and what is his/her role?
Vice President. Presides over the Senate. Can only vote if there is a tie. If V.P. isn’t in attendance a pro-tempura
(or President Pro-tem) is used.
 
Who refused to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island
 
What is a writ of Habeas Corpus?
Legal document stating the right of a jailed person to be released if proper charges cannot be brought against him.
 
House of Representatives are limited to how many members? (Regardless of increase in population).
They have the power to impeach the president, propose finance bills, select their own speaker.
 
What are the requirements to be a US Representative?
25 years old, 7 years resident of U.S. and must live in the district and state in which elected.
 
Who was opposed to the Constitution?
Anti-Federalists. Supporters were the Federalists.
 
What is the process for a bill becoming a law?
Congress proposes bills. President must sign in 10 days or bill is returned to Congress to be passed by
a 2/3rds vote in order to override veto. If not signed or returned in10 days, bill automatically becomes law.
Pocket veto-- President does not sign, but Congress has adjourned before the 10 days.
 
What are the requirements to become a Senator and what sole power lies with the Senate?
30 yrs. old, 9 years as U.S. resident. President of Senate is the V.P.; votes only in a tie.
The Senate has the sole power to convict an impeached president by a 2/3rds vote.
(Chief Justice takes V.P.'s place in Senate during trial).
 
What is the definition of treason?
Levying war and or aiding and comforting the enemy. Requires: 2 witnesses to the act or a confession in court.
 
What are the requirements to be President?
35 years old, natural-born citizen and at least 14 years residency in U.S. President's oath:
"…preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the U.S."
 
How are finance bills proposed and approved?
Must start in the House of Representatives then approved by Senate. President may sign the bill into law or veto.
 
How often are Senators and the House of Representatives elected?
Senators: 1/3rd of Senate elected every 2 yrs. (serve a 6 year term). House of Representatives:
All members are elected every 2 years (they serve a 2 year term).
 
Describe some important facts about the Constitutional Convention.
Held in Philadelphia in 1787. First to sign was George Washington & William Johnson was the last.
12 states were represented.
 
Which president (s) were impeached?
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House of Representatives. Johnson was
tried by the Senate, but acquitted by 1 vote (a 2/3rds majority is required). Clinton was tried in the Senate
and found not guilty of the charges brought against him (the vote on both counts falling short of the 2/3rds majority).
 
How are Amendments ratified?
a.) By 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or
b) By a National Convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3rds of the states.
 
How are Amendments proposed?
a) By the legislators of 3/4ths of the states or
b) By conventions in 3/4ths of the states.