PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 

Pregunta 1. ¿What is the supreme law of the land?

Repuesta

    • The Constitution

Pregunta 2. ¿What does the Constitution do?

Respuestas

    • Sets up the government
    • Defines the government
    • Protects basic rights of Americans

Pregunta 3. ¿The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

Respuesta 

  • We the People

       Pregunta 4 . ¿What is an amendment?

Respuestas 

    • A change (to the Constitution)
    • An addition (to the Constitution)

Preguntas 5. ¿What do we call the first ten amendmentso the Constitution?

Respuesta

    • The Bill of Rights

Pregunta 6. ¿What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Respuestas

    • Speech
    • Religion
    • Assembly
    • Press
    • Petition the government

Pregunta 7. ¿How many amendments does the Constitution have?

Respuesta 

    • Twenty-seven (27)

Pregunta 8. ¿What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Respuestas 

    • Announced our independence (from Great Britain)
    • Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
    • Said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

Pregunta 9. ¿What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Respuesta 

    • life
    • liberty
    • pursuit of happiness

Pregunta 10. ¿What is freedom of religion?

Respuesta

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

Pregunta 11. ¿What is the economic system in the United States?

Respuesta

    • Capitalist economy
    • Market economy

Pregunta 12. ¿What is the “rule of law”?

Respuesta

    • Everyone must follow the law.
    • Leaders must obey the law.
    • Government must obey the law.
    • No one is above the law.

 System of Government 

Pregunta 13. Name one branch or part of the government.

Respuestas

    • Congress
    • legislative
    • President
    • executive
    • the courts
    • judicial

Pregunta 14. ¿What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Respuesta

    • Checks and balances
    • Separation of powers

Pregunta 15. ¿Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Respuesta

The President

Pregunta 16. ¿Who makes federal laws?

Respuestas

    • Congress
    • Senate and House (of Representatives)
    • (U.S. or national) legislature

Pregunta 17 ¿What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

Respuesta

The Senate and House (of Representatives)

Pregunta 18. ¿How many U.S. Senators are there?

Respuesta

  • One hundred (100)

Pregunta 19. ¿We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

Respuesta 

Six (6)

Pregunta 20. ¿Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?

Respuesta

    • 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.]
    • For Florida – Marco Rubio and Rick Scott

Pregunta 21. ¿The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Respuesta

  • Four hundred thirty-five (435)

Pregunta 22.  ¿We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

Respuesta

Two

Pregunta 23. Name your U.S. Representative.

Respuesta 

  • 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.]
  • For Tampa is Kathy Castor

Pregunra 24. ¿Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Respuesta

All People of the State

Pregunta 25. ¿Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

Respuestas

  • (Because of) the state’s population
  • (Because) they have more people
  • (Because) some states have more people

Pregunta 26. ¿We elect a President for how many years?

Respuesta

Four (4)

Pregunta 27. ¿In what month do we vote for President?

Repuesta

  • November

Pregunta 28. ¿What is the name of the President of the United States now?

Respuestas

  • Joseph R. Biden
  • Joe Biden
  • Biden

Pregunta 29. ¿What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? 

Respuestas

  • Kamala D. Harris
  • Kamala Harris
  • Harris

Pregunta 30. ¿If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Respuesta 

  • The Vice President

Pregunta 31. ¿If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Respuesta

  • The Speaker of the House

Pregunta 32. ¿Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

Respuesta

  • The President

Pregunta 33. ¿Who signs bills to become laws?

Respuesta 

  • The President

Pregunta 34.  ¿Who vetoes bills?

Respuesta 

  • The President

Pregunta 36.  ¿What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Respuestas

  • 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 President

Pregunta 37.  ¿ What does the judicial branch do?

Respuestas

    • Reviews laws
    • Explains laws
    • Resolves disputes (disagreements)
    • decides if a law goes against the Constitution

Pregunta 38.  ¿ What is the highest court in the United States?

Respuestas 

    • The Supreme Court

Pregunta 39.   ¿How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Respuesta

    • Nine (9)

Pregunta 40.  ¿Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Respuesta

    • John Roberts
    • John G. Roberts, Jr.

Pregunta 41 ¿Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Respuesta 

  • To print money
  • To declare war
  • To create an army
  • To make treaties

Pregunta 42  ¿Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

Respuesta 

  • Provide schooling and education.
  • Provide protection (police).
  • Provide safety (fire departments).
  • Give a driver’s license.
  • Approve zoning and land use.

 

Pregunta 43.  ¿Who is the Governor of your state now?

Respuesta 

  • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]

Pregunta 44 ¿What is the capital of your state?

Respuesta

  • 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.]

Pregunta 45. ¿What are the two major political parties in the United States?

Respuesta 

  • Democratic and Republican

Pregunta 46. ¿What is the political party of the President now?

Respuesta

    • Democratic (Party)

Pregunta 47. ¿What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? 

Respuestas

  • Kevin McCarthy
  • McCarthy

 Rights and Responsibilities

Pregunta 48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

Respuestas

    • 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).

Pregunta 49.¿What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

Respuesta 

    • Serve on a jury
    • Vote in a federal election

Pregunta 50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

Respuestas 

    • Vote in a federal election
    • Run for federal office

Pregunta 51. ¿What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

Respuesta 

    • Freedom of expression
    • Freedom of speech
    • Freedom of assembly
    • Freedom to petition the government
    • Freedom of religion
    • The right to bear arms

Pregunta 52. ¿What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Respuestas 

    • the United States
    • the flag

Pregunta 53. ¿What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Respuestas 

    • 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 States

Pregunta 54. ¿How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

Respuesta 

    • Eighteen (18) and older

Pregunta 55. ¿What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

Respuestas 

    • 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 newspaper

Pregunta 56. ¿When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

Respuesta 

    • April 15

Pregunta 57.  ¿When must all men register for the Selective Service?

Respuestas 

    • At age eighteen (18)
    • Between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

Colonial Period and Independence

Pregunta 58. ¿What is one reason colonists came to America?

Respuestas 

  • Freedom
  • Political liberty
  • Religious freedom
  • Economic opportunity
  • Practice their religion
  • Escape persecution

Pregunta 59 ¿Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Respuestas 

    • American Indians
    • Native Americans

Pregunta 60 ¿What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

Respuestas 

    • Africans
    • people from Africa

Pregunta 61. ¿Why did the colonists fight the British?

Respuestas 

    • Because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
    • Because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
    • Because they didn’t have self-government

Pregunta 62. ¿Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Respuesta 

    • (Thomas) Jefferson

Pregunta 63 ¿When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

Respuesta 

    • July 4, 1776

Pregunta 64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

Respuesta 

    • New Hampshire
    • Massachusetts
    • Rhode Island
    • Connecticut
    • New York
    • New Jersey
    • Pennsylvania
    • Delaware
    • Maryland
    • Virginia
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Georgia

Pregunta 65. ¿What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

Respuestas 

    • The Constitution was written.
    • The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

Pregunta 66. ¿When was the Constitution written?

Respuestas 

    • 1787

Pregunta 67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

Respuestas 

    • (James) Madison
    • (Alexander) Hamilton
    • (John) Jay
    • Publius

Pregunta 68. ¿What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

Respuestas 

    • 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

Pregunta 69. ¿Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

Respuesta

    • (George) Washington

Pregunta 70. ¿Who was the first President?

Respuesta 

    • (George) Washington

 

1800s

Pregunta 71. ¿What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Respuestas 

  • The Louisiana Territory
  •   Louisiana

Pregunta 72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

Respuestas 

    • War of 1812
    • Mexican-American War
    • Civil War
    • Spanish-American War

Pregunta 73.  Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

Respuestas 

  • The Civil War
  • The War between the States

Pregunta 74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

Respuestas 

  • Slavery
  • Economic reasons
  • States’ rights

Pregunta 75. ¿What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

Respuesta 

  • Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation).
  • Saved (or preserved) the Union.
  • Led the United States during the Civil War.

Pregunta 76  ¿What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Respuestas

    • Freed the slaves.
    • Freed slaves in the Confederacy.
    • Freed slaves in the Confederate states.
    • Freed slaves in most Southern states.

Pregunta 77 ¿ What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Respuestas 

  • Fought for women’s rights
  • Fought for civil rights

 Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

Pregunta 78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.

Respuestas 

    • World War I
    • World War II
    • Korean War
    • Vietnam War
    • (Persian) Gulf War

Pregunta 79. ¿Who was President during World War I?

Respuesta 

    • (Woodrow) Wilson

Pregunta 80. ¿Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

Respuesta 

    • (Franklin) Roosevelt

Pregunta 81 ¿Who did the United States fight in World War II?

Respuesta 

    • Japan, Germany, and Italy

Pregunta 82. ¿Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

Respuesta 

    • World War II

Pregunta 83. ¿During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

Respuesta 

    • Communism

Pregunta 84 ¿What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

Respuesta 

  • Civil rights (movement

Pregunta 85. ¿What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

Respuestas 

    • Fought for civil rights
    • Worked for equality for all Americans

Pregunta 86. ¿What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

Respuesta 

Terrorists attacked the United States

Pregunta 87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

Respuestas 

    • Cherokee
    • Navajo
    • Sioux
    • Chippewa
    • Choctaw
    • Pueblo
    • Apache
    • Iroquois
    • Creek
    • Blackfeet
    • Seminole
    • Cheyenne
    • Arawak
    • Shawnee
    • Mohegan
    • Huron
    • Oneida
    • Lakota
    • Crow
    • Teton
    • Hopi
    • Inuit

 Geography

Pregunta 88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

Respuestas

    • Missouri (River)
    • Mississippi (River)

Pregunta 89. ¿What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

Respuesta 

    • Pacific (Ocean)

Pregunta 90. ¿What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

Respuesta 

    • Atlantic (Ocean)

Pregunta 91. Name one U.S. territory.

Respuestas

  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Island
  • American Samo
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Guam

Pregunta 92. Name one state that borders Canada.

Respuesta 

    • Maine
    • New Hampshire
    • Vermont
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Ohio
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • North Dakota
    • Montana
    • Idaho
    • Washington
    • Alaska

Pregunta 93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

Respuestas

    • California
    • Arizona
    • New Mexico
    • Texas

Pregunta 94. ¿What is the capital of the United States?

Respuesta 

    • Washington, D.C.

Pregunta 95. ¿Where is the Statue of Liberty?

Respuesta 

    • New York (Harbor)
    • Liberty Island

 

Pregunta 96. ¿Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

Respuestas 

    • Because there were 13 original colonies
    • Because the stripes represent the original colonies

Pregunta 97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?

Respuestas 

    • Because there is one star for each state
    • Because each star represents a state
    • Because there are 50 states

Pregunta 98.  ¿What is the name of the national anthem?

Respuesta

    • The Star-Spangled Banner

Pregunta 99. ¿When do we celebrate Independence Day?

Respuesta 

    • July 4

Pregunta 100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

Respuestas 

    • New Year’s Day
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • Presidents’ Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Columbus Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas