Government Study Guide

What is the form of government of the United States?

2. What is the supreme law of the land?

3. Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

4. The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

5. How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

6. What does the Bill of Rights protect?

7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

8. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

9. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

9. Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

10. The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?

11. What is the economic system of the United States?

12. What is the rule of law?

13. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution.

14. There are three branches of government. Why?

16. Name the three branches of government.

17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

18. What part of the federal government writes laws?

9. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

21. How many U.S. senators are there?

22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

23. Who is your US State Senator?

24. How many members are in the House of representatives?

25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

27. How many senators does each state have?

28. Why does each state have two senators?

29. Name your U.S. representative.

30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?

32. Who elects U.S. senators?

33. Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?

34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

40. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

41. Name one power of the president.

42. Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

43. Who signs bills to become laws?

44. Who vetoes bills?

45. Who appoints federal judges?

46. The executive branch has many parts.

47. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

48. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

49 . Why is the Electoral College important?

50. What is one part of the judicial branch?

51. What does the judicial branch do?

52. What is the highest court in the United States?

53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

54. How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

55. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

56. Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

58. Name one power that is only for the federal government.

59. Name one power that is only for the states.

60. What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

61. Who is the governor of your state now?

62. What is the capital of your state?

63. There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote.

64. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States?

65. What are the three rights of everyone living in the United States?

66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

67. Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.

68. How can people become United States citizens?

69. What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

70. What are one-way Americans can serve their country?

71. Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

72. It is important for all men aged 18 through 25 to register for the Selective Service.

73. The colonists came to America for many reasons.

74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

75. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

76. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

77. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

80. The American Revolution had many important events.

81. There were 13 original states.

82. What founding document was written in 1787?

83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution.

84. Why were the Federalist Papers important?

85. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things.

86. George Washington is famous for many things.

87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things.

88. James Madison is famous for many things.

89. Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things.

90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

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

92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

93. The Civil War had many important events.

94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things.

95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

96. What U.S. war ended slavery?

97. What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?

98. When did all men get the right to vote?

99. Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.

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