ARE YOU SMARTER THAN AN IMMIGRANT?
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services have released their new naturalization test questions. Immigration officials said they sought to move away from civics trivia like "Who wrote The Star Spangled Banner?" in order to emphasize basic concepts about the structure of government and American history and geography. They also wanted applicants to have to study a bit more for the testing. Apparently 92% of a test group passed on their first try, compared to 84% on the previous version of the test. "Passing" means getting roughly 60% correct (you need to answer six correctly out of each set of ten questions to move on to the next set).
Any takers?
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. What does the Constitution do?
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
4. What is an amendment?
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
10. What is freedom of religion?
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
12. What is the "rule of law"?
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
16. Who makes federal laws?
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?*
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
26. We elect a President for how many years?
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
34. Who vetoes bills?
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
37. What does the judicial branch do?
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
44. What is the capital of your state?*
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
46. What is the political party of the President now?
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
66. When was the Constitution written?
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
70. Who was the first President?*
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
79. Who was President during World War I?
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
91. Name one U.S. territory.
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
B: Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
*If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
teh answers
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
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)
8. 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 economy
12. 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
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances
separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature
17. 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?*
Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators]
21. 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.
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]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
25. 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 people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
George W. Bush
George Bush
Bush
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Richard Cheney
Dick Cheney
Cheney
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
the President
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
advises the President
36. 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 Interior
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
Secretary of Labor
Attorney General
37. What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
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 treaties
42. 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 use
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor"]
44. 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]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
Republican (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
(Nancy) Pelosi
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. 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
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
apply for a federal job
vote
run for office
carry a U.S. passport
51. 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 arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
53. 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 States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
eighteen (18) and older
55. 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 newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
at age eighteen (18)
between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
American Indians
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
61. 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-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
64. 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
Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
66. When was the Constitution written?
1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
Publius
68. 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 libraries
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
(George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?*
(George) Washington
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
the Civil War
the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery
economic reasons
states' rights
75. 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 War
76. 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
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women's rights
fought for civil rights
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I?
(Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
84. 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 Americans
86. 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.
[Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list]
Cherokee
Navajo
Sioux
Chippewa
Choctaw
Pueblo
Apache
Iroquois
Creek
Blackfeet
Seminole
Cheyenne
Arawak
Shawnee
Mohegan
Huron
Oneida
Lakota
Crow
Teton
Hopi
Inuit
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Missouri (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
Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Alaska
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
94. 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)]
B: Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. 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
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
July 4
100. 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
Any takers?
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. What does the Constitution do?
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
4. What is an amendment?
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
10. What is freedom of religion?
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
12. What is the "rule of law"?
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
16. Who makes federal laws?
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?*
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
26. We elect a President for how many years?
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
34. Who vetoes bills?
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
37. What does the judicial branch do?
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
44. What is the capital of your state?*
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
46. What is the political party of the President now?
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
66. When was the Constitution written?
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
70. Who was the first President?*
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
79. Who was President during World War I?
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
91. Name one U.S. territory.
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
B: Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
*If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
teh answers
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
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)
8. 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 economy
12. 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
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
checks and balances
separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature
17. 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?*
Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators]
21. 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.
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]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
25. 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 people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
George W. Bush
George Bush
Bush
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Richard Cheney
Dick Cheney
Cheney
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
the President
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
advises the President
36. 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 Interior
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
Secretary of Labor
Attorney General
37. What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
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 treaties
42. 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 use
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor"]
44. 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]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
Republican (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
(Nancy) Pelosi
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. 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
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
apply for a federal job
vote
run for office
carry a U.S. passport
51. 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 arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
the United States
the flag
53. 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 States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
eighteen (18) and older
55. 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 newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
at age eighteen (18)
between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
Native Americans
American Indians
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
61. 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-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
(Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
64. 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
Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
66. When was the Constitution written?
1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
Publius
68. 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 libraries
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
(George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?*
(George) Washington
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
the Civil War
the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
slavery
economic reasons
states' rights
75. 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 War
76. 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
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women's rights
fought for civil rights
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I?
(Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
Japan, Germany, and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Communism
84. 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 Americans
86. 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.
[Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list]
Cherokee
Navajo
Sioux
Chippewa
Choctaw
Pueblo
Apache
Iroquois
Creek
Blackfeet
Seminole
Cheyenne
Arawak
Shawnee
Mohegan
Huron
Oneida
Lakota
Crow
Teton
Hopi
Inuit
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Missouri (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
Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Alaska
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
94. 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)]
B: Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
because there were 13 original colonies
because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. 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
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
July 4
100. 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