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.
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.]