U.S. Citizenship Civics Test Concept Review

Overview

This chapter covers the basic ideas behind the American government. You will learn what kind of government the United States has, what its most important law is, and which founding documents shaped the country. These ideas come first because the rest of the civics test builds on them.

The United States is a republic, which means the people elect leaders to make decisions for them. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It forms the government, defines its powers and parts, and protects the rights of the people. Its first words, "We the People," show that the power of government comes from the people themselves.

The Constitution can be changed by amendments. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights, and they protect the basic rights of Americans. Older than the Constitution is the Declaration of Independence, which said the colonies were free from British control and that all people are created equal. It contains the famous words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

Two more ideas round out this chapter. The rule of law means no one is above the law, not even leaders or the government. Power is split among three branches so that no one part becomes too powerful, an idea called checks and balances. The economy of the United States is based on capitalism, also called a free market economy.

Overview

This chapter is about the legislative branch, called Congress. You will learn the three branches of government, the two parts of Congress, how many members each part has, how long they serve, and whom they represent. Many test questions in this chapter ask for a number, so it helps to learn the numbers as pairs.

The three branches are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Congress is the legislative branch, and it writes federal laws. It also declares war and makes the federal budget. Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate has 100 senators, two from each state, and each senator serves a six-year term. Every state has two senators, no matter its size, to give equal representation to small states. This idea came from the Great Compromise. Senators represent and are elected by the people of their whole state.

The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, and each serves a two-year term. The short term helps representatives closely follow public opinion. Each representative is elected by and represents the people of a congressional district. States with more people have more representatives, so the number of seats depends on a state's population.

Overview

This chapter covers the executive branch, which is led by the President. You will learn how long the President serves, what happens if the President cannot serve, what powers the President has, and what the Cabinet and the Electoral College do.

The President is elected for four years and can serve only two terms because of the 22nd Amendment. The limit keeps the President from becoming too powerful. If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President becomes President.

The President has many powers. The President signs bills into law, vetoes bills, enforces laws, appoints federal judges, and is the chief diplomat. The President is also the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military.

The executive branch has many parts, including the President, the Cabinet, and federal departments and agencies. The Cabinet advises the President, and its members include the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. The Electoral College is important because it decides who is elected president.

Overview

This chapter covers the judicial branch and how power is shared between the federal government and the states. You will learn about the Supreme Court, how long justices serve, and which powers belong only to the federal government or only to the states.

The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and the federal courts. It reviews and explains laws, resolves disagreements about the law, and decides if a law goes against the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.

The Supreme Court has nine seats, and usually five justices are needed to decide a case. Justices serve for life. This lets them be independent of politics, because they do not have to worry about losing their jobs.

Some powers belong only to the federal government, such as printing paper money, minting coins, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties. Other powers belong only to the states, such as providing schooling, police and fire protection, driver's licenses, and zoning. The 10th Amendment says powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

Overview

This chapter is about the rights that people in the United States have and the duties that come with citizenship. You will learn who can vote, which rights belong to everyone, what new citizens promise, and the ways Americans can serve their country.

Four amendments to the Constitution are about voting. They say that a male citizen of any race can vote, that any citizen, woman or man, can vote, that you do not have to pay a poll tax to vote, and that citizens eighteen and older can vote. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury.

Some rights belong to everyone living in the United States, not only citizens. These include freedom of expression, speech, assembly, and religion, the freedom to petition the government, and the right to bear arms. When people say the Pledge of Allegiance, they show loyalty to the United States and the flag.

New citizens make promises in the Oath of Allegiance, such as giving up loyalty to other countries, defending the Constitution, and obeying the laws of the United States. People can become citizens by birth, by naturalizing, or by deriving citizenship. Americans take part in civic life by voting, contacting elected officials, and joining community groups, and they serve the country by paying taxes, obeying the law, and serving in the military. All men age 18 through 25 must register for the Selective Service.

Overview

This chapter tells the story of how the United States began. You will learn why colonists came to America, who lived here before them, why the colonies broke away from Britain, and which founders and documents shaped the new nation.

American Indians, also called Native Americans, lived in America before the Europeans arrived. Colonists came for many reasons, including freedom, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. People from Africa were taken and sold as slaves.

The colonists grew angry about high taxes and taxation without representation, British soldiers staying in their houses, and having no self-government. Events like the Boston Tea Party added to the anger. The Revolutionary War began in 1775. While it was being fought, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776. The Americans won the war, and the British surrendered at Yorktown in 1781.

There were 13 original states in the East, near the Atlantic Ocean. In 1787 the founders wrote the U.S. Constitution, and James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers to support it. George Washington was the first president, Thomas Jefferson the third, and James Madison, the fourth, is called the "Father of the Constitution." Benjamin Franklin was an inventor and diplomat, and Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Overview

This chapter covers the 1800s, a century when the United States grew larger and fought a war that divided the country. You will learn about the Louisiana Purchase, the wars of the 1800s, the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, and how voting rights and citizenship changed.

In 1803 the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France. Wars fought by the United States in the 1800s include the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.

The Civil War was the war between the North and the South, and it ended slavery. Important events include Fort Sumter, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the battle of Gettysburg. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, led the country during the war, saved the Union, and freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the Confederate states.

After the war, the 14th Amendment said that people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. All men got the right to vote after the Civil War with the 15th Amendment in 1870. Women such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth led the women's rights movement in the 1800s.

Overview

This chapter covers American history from 1900 to today. You will learn about the wars of the 1900s and why the United States entered them, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the civil rights movement, and the September 11 attacks. It also includes American Indian tribes and American innovations.

The United States entered World War I because Germany attacked U.S. civilian ships. Women got the right to vote in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. The Great Depression, the longest economic recession in modern history, started with the stock market crash of 1929. Franklin Roosevelt was president during the Great Depression and World War II, and the United States entered World War II after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Dwight Eisenhower was a general in World War II and later the 34th president.

During the Cold War, the main rival of the United States was the Soviet Union, and the main concerns were communism and nuclear war. The United States entered the Korean War and the Vietnam War to stop the spread of communism, and the Persian Gulf War to force the Iraqi military from Kuwait. At home, the civil rights movement fought to end racial discrimination, and Martin Luther King, Jr. worked for equality for all Americans.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. After the attacks, the United States fought the War on Terror, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many American Indian tribes live in the United States, such as the Cherokee, Navajo, and Sioux, and American innovations include the light bulb, the airplane, and landing on the moon.

Overview

This last chapter covers the symbols and holidays of the United States. These are some of the easiest questions on the test, and many people already know them from daily life.

The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The flag has 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies and 50 stars, one for each state. The national anthem is "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the nation's first motto, "E Pluribus Unum," means "Out of many, one."

Independence Day is the country's birthday and celebrates independence from Britain. Memorial Day honors soldiers who died in military service, and Veterans Day honors people who have served in the U.S. military. Other national holidays include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.