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American Government
questions for the GRE
99
Social Studies
12th Grade
04/15/2014

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Cards

Term
What is the supreme law of the land?
Definition
the constitution
Term
What does the constitution do?
Definition
sets up the government, defines the government and protects basic rights of americans
Term
The idea of self government is in the first three words of the constitution. What are these words?
Definition
We the People
Term
What is an amendment?
Definition
a change or addition to the constitution
Term
What do we call the first 10 amendment to the constitution?
Definition
the Bill of Rights
Term
What is one right or freedom from the first amendment?
Definition
speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the government
Term
How many amendments does the constitution have?
Definition
27
Term
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Definition
announced our independence from Great Britain
Term
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
Definition
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Term
What is freedom of religion?
Definition
You can practice any religion or no religion at all
Term
What is the economic system in the United States?
Definition
capitalist economy/market economy
Term
What is the "rule of law"?
Definition
everyone must follow the law/ leaders must obey the law/no one is above the law
Term
Name one branch or part of the government?
Definition
congress/ legislative, president/executive, the courts/judicial
Term
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Definition
checks and balances, separation of powers
Term
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Definition
the president
Term
Who makes federal laws?
Definition
congress/senate and house of representatives/legislature
Term
What are the 2 parts of the US Congress?
Definition
The Senate and the House of Representatives
Term
How many US Senators are there?
Definition
100
Term
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
Definition
6
Term
Who is one of your state's US Senators now?
Definition
Kay Hagan and Richard Burr
Term
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Definition
435
Term
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
Definition
2
Term
Name your US Representative
Definition
Walter Jones Jr
Term
Who does a US Senator represent?
Definition
all people in the state
Term
Why do some states have more representatives than other states?
Definition
because some states have more people
Term
We elect a President for how many years?
Definition
4
Term
In what month do we vote for President?
Definition
November
Term
What is the name of the President now?
Definition
Barack Obama
Term
What is the name of the Vice President now?
Definition
Joe Biden
Term
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Definition
the Vice President
Term
If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Definition
The Speaker of the House
Term
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
Definition
the President
Term
Who signs bills to become laws?
Definition
the President
Term
Who vetoes bills
Definition
the President
Term
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Definition
advises the President
Term
What are two cabinet level positions?
Definition
Sec. of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Attorney General and Vice President
Term
What does the judicial branch do?
Definition
reviews laws, explains laws, resolves disputes, decides if a law goes against the constitution
Term
What is the highest court in the US?
Definition
the Supreme Court
Term
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Definition
9
Term
Who is the Chief Justice of the US now
Definition
John Roberts
Term
What is one power of the Federal Government?
Definition
print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties
Term
What is one power of the states?
Definition
provide education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire dept), give a drivers license, approve zoning and land use
Term
Who is the governor of NC now
Definition
Pat McCrory
Term
What is the capital of NC
Definition
Raleigh
Term
What are the 2 major political parties in the US
Definition
Democratic and Republican
Term
What is the political party of the president now?
Definition
Democratic
Term
Who is the speaker of the House of Representatives
Definition
John Boehner
Term
There are 4 amendments about who can vote, describe them
Definition
citizens 18 and older can vote, you dont have to pay to vote, any citizen men and women can vote, a male citizen of any race can vote,
Term
What is 1 responsibility that is only for US citizens?
Definition
serve on a jury, vote in federal elections
Term
What is 1 right only for US citizens?
Definition
vote in a federal election, run for federal office
Term
What are 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
Definition
freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom to worship, right to bear arms
Term
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Definition
The United States, the flag
Term
What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
Definition
give up loyalty to other countries, defend the constitution and laws of the US, obey the laws of the US, serve in the US military if needed, serve the nation by working if needed, be loyal to the US
Term
How old to citizens need to be to vote for President?
Definition
18
Term
What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Definition
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 spport or oppose an issue or policy, run for office, write to a newspaper
Term
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
Definition
April 15
Term
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Definition
at age 18, between 18 and 26
Term
What is one reason colonists came to America?
Definition
freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, practice religion, escape persecution
Term
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Definition
Native Americans
Term
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Definition
Africans
Term
Why did the colonists fight the British?
Definition
high taxes, the British army stayed in their houses, they didn't have self government
Term
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Definition
Thomas Jefferson
Term
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
Definition
July 4, 1776
Term
There were 13 original states, name 3
Definition
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Term
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
Definition
The Constitution was written
Term
When was the constitution written?
Definition
1787
Term
The federalist papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
Definition
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius
Term
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
Definition
US Diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first postmaster general of the US, writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac", started the first free libraries
Term
Who is the "father of our country"
Definition
George Washington
Term
Who was the first President
Definition
George Washington
Term
What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
Definition
Louisiana
Term
Name one war fought by the US in the 1800's
Definition
War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War
Term
Name the US war between the North and South
Definition
The Civil War, the War between the States
Term
Name one problem that led to the Civil War
Definition
slavery, economic reasons, states' rights
Term
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
Definition
freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation, preserved the Union of the US, led the US during the Civil War
Term
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
Definition
freed the slaves in the southern states
Term
What did Susan B Anthony do?
Definition
fought for women's rights
Term
Name one war fought by the US in the 1900's
Definition
World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War
Term
Who was President during World War I?
Definition
Woodrow Wilson
Term
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Definition
Franklin Roosevelt
Term
Who did the US fight in World War II?
Definition
Japan, Germany, and Italy
Term
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
Definition
World War II
Term
During the cold war, what was the main concern of the US?
Definition
Communism
Term
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
Definition
the civil rights movement
Term
What did Martin Luther King, Jr do?
Definition
fought for civil rights, worked for equality for all Americans
Term
What major event happened on September 11, 2001?
Definition
terrorists attacked the United States
Term
Name one American Indian tribe in the US
Definition
Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet, Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan, Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, Inuit
Term
Name one of the 2 longest rivers in the US
Definition
Missouri, Mississippi
Term
What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?
Definition
Pacific Ocean
Term
What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?
Definition
Atlantic Ocean
Term
Name one US territory
Definition
Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands
Term
Name one state that borders Mexico
Definition
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Term
What is the capital of the US
Definition
Washington, DC
Term
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Definition
New York Harbor, Liberty Island
Term
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Definition
because there were 13 original colonies
Term
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
Definition
there is one star for each state
Term
What is the name of the National Anthem?
Definition
The Star Spangled Banner
Term
When do we celebrate independence day?
Definition
July 4th
Term
Name 2 national US holidays
Definition
New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr day, Presidents day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
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