One Hundred Civics Questions and Answers with MP3 Audio

100 Civics Questions and Answers with MP3 Audio

All The Questions and Answers

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.

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 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.]

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?

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

29. 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.

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 the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President

37. 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?

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

40. 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.

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?

the President
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 now?

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not 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?