All posts in US Civics

Congress has two parts: the House and the Senate. The Senate is smaller, but has more power and respect.

Each state has only two senators. Each senator works for all the people in the state.

Who does a U.S. Senator represent? –> All people of the state

Every state has two senators, and we have 50 states. So, we have 100 senators in total.

How many U.S. Senators are there? –> 100

Senators have a lot of respect. For example, we elect representatives for only 2 years. We elect the president for only 4 years. But we elect US senators for 6 years!

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? –> six

Now, let’s learn about another part or branch of the government: the courts, or judicial branch. Judges review laws and interpret them so we can understand them.

Also, if congress or the president do something against the law of the constitution, the courts can hold them responsible. This is an example of checks and balances.

What does the judicial branch do? –> Reviews laws / interprets laws

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Every county in every state in the U.S. has a court. There are courts above those courts. And every state has a supreme court, too. We also have federal courts for every state, and courts above those courts.

The highest court in the U.S. is The Supreme Court.

What is the highest court in the United States? –> The Supreme Court

The judges on the supreme court are special, and are called justices. When one retires or dies, the president can choose a new judge. But, congress has to approve the new justice.

Right now, there are nine justices on the Supreme Court. John Roberts is the chief justice.

How many justices are on the Supreme Court? –> nine

Review: The House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court

1. Who makes federal laws?
2. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
3. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
4. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
5. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
6. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
7. How many U.S. Senators are there?
8. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
9. What does the judicial branch do?
10. What is the highest court in the United States?
11. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

The House 🏠

The United States government has three branches, or parts. Congress is the part that makes laws.

Congress makes laws for all of the United States. They can write laws about many things, like health care, unemployment benefits, transportation, the military, taxes, and more.

Citizens in every state choose members of congress. We vote for them, and they represent us in Washington DC. If you are not happy with something, you can call your representative and tell them. This is all part of democracy.

Who makes federal laws? –> Congress

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Congress has two parts. The House of Representatives has many members. The Senate has fewer members. They have to work together to make new laws, but it is not easy.

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* –> The House and the Senate

The House of Representatives is kind of a wild place. We elect US Representatives every 2 years. That means every 2 years, the House can change a lot.

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? –> 2

Every state sends Representatives to Washington DC, but some states send more. For example, Oregon has 5 Representatives. Washington has 10 Representatives. California has 52 Representatives.

Why? Washington has more people than Oregon. And California has the most people in the United States.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? –> because of the state’s population

The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. How can we remember that?

The House of Representatives has how many voting members? –> 435

Who is the leader of a class?

Who is the leader of a plane?

Who is the leader of a business?

In the House of Representatives, the leader is called “Speaker of the House.” They choose who can speak, and they lead the meeting.

Right now (Fall 2020), Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House.

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? –> Nancy Pelosi

Review!

1. Who makes federal laws?
2. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
3. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
4. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
5. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
6. What is the name of the Speaker

Civics and Reading

The constitution defines the government for all Americans.

We don’t have any kings, queens, or nobility. Everyone must follow the law.

What about teachers? They must follow the law.

What about governors? They must follow the law.

What about presidents? They must follow the law.

What is the “rule of law”? –> Everyone must follow the law.

The constitution was written in 1787. It had many problems.

For example, in 1787, women could not vote.

In 1787, white men could own slaves.

In 1787, Native Americans had no rights in the U.S.

After 1787, Americans made many changes to the constitution. A change to the constitution is also called an amendment.

For example, Americans made 4 amendments to change voting rights for all citizens of any race, men and women, 18 and older.

What is an amendment? –> A change (to the constitution)

Congress and the states can change the constitution, but it is not easy. Also, it takes a long time to pass an amendment.

Congress and the states have only changed the Constitution 27 times.

How many fingers do you have? And toes? And eyes? And ears? And nostrils (holes in your nose)?And mouths?

How many amendments does the Constitution have? –> 27

In 1789, Congress made 10 amendments to the Constitution. This list of amendments was called a bill.

These first 10 amendments give us really important rights. A “right” means something that a person can do, and that the government cannot stop or limit them from.

So, we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution the Bill of Rights.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? –> The Bill of Rights

The first amendment gives all Americans the right to free speech. It also gives us the right to come together, to protest, to report news freely, and to practice religion.

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* –> Speech

Many colonists came from Europe to America for religious freedom. They wanted to practice their religion in a free way.

Now, we also have the freedom to not practice a religion. Even today, many people come to the United States for religious freedom.

What is freedom of religion? –> You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

These rights in the constitution are for all people in the United States. That means these are rights for citizens, permanent residents, undocumented people, and visitors.

For example, everyone living in the United States has the freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? –> freedom of speech, freedom of religion

Review

1. What is the “rule of law”?
2. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
3. What is an amendment?
4. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
5. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
6. What is freedom of religion?
7. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

Reading and Civics

The United States government has many parts. Congress makes federal laws. The court interprets the laws. The president signs bills to become laws. The president is also in charge of the Executive branch.

Each part of the government is called a branch. The constitution made 3 branches of government to work together.

Name one branch or part of the government.* –> Congress / the President / the courts

The founding fathers did not want America to have a king. They worried about one part of the government from getting too much power.

So, congress has some powers over the president. The president has some power over congress. The court has some power over the president and congress. Congress and the president also have some power over the court.

This separation of power is supposed to keep things balanced. We sometimes call these rules checks and balances.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? –> Checks and Balances

Another balance of power is between the federal government and state governments. Only the federal government can do some special things, like:

• Print money
• Declare war
• Make treaties

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? –> print money

On the other hand, only state governments have these powers:

• Give a driver license
• Provide education
• Provide police and safety

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? –> give a driver license

1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
3. What does the Constitution do?
4. When was the Constitution written?
5. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
6. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
7. Name one branch or part of the government.*
8. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
9. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
10. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Reading and Civics

The constitution is the most important law of the United States.

That is what we mean when we say the constitution is the supreme law of the US.

What is the supreme law of the land? –> The Constitution

The Constitution has the idea of self-government in the first three words.

Self-government means a government by the people, of the people, and for the people.

It means we have a democracy, and we elect representatives.

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? –> We the people

Before the Constitution, the US didn’t have a clear system. States did not agree about important things like money, the military, or elections.

The Constitution was a plan to set up the government. It explains the system of government.

What does the Constitution do? –> It sets up the government.

The founding fathers were leaders who started the United States. They met in 1787 to write a new constitution for the US.

When was the Constitution written? –> 1787

This meeting was called the “Constitutional Convention.” During the Constitutional Convention, the founding fathers wrote the constitution.

We also say that at the Constitutional Convention, the constitution was written.

What happened at the Constitutional Convention? –>The founding fathers wrote the constitution.

After the constitution was written, every state had a vote about it.

Alexander Hamilton wrote the Federalist Papers. They explained why the US needed this constitution.

There is only one question about the Federalist Papers. When you hear “Federalist Papers,” you can think about this song:

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. –> Alexander Hamilton

1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
3. What does the Constitution do?
4. When was the Constitution written?
5. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
6. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

Civics Review: Oregon Leaders

Reading+Civics: Places

The Statue of Liberty is a famous place in New York.

Have you ever visited the Statue of Liberty?

Where is the Statue of Liberty? –> New York

The United States has many long rivers.

The number one longest river in the United States is the Mississippi.

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. –> Mississippi

Oregon, Washington, and California are states. They are part of the 50 United States.

Citizens in states can vote for president. But they also have to pay federal taxes.

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The United States also has territories. Territories are not the same as states. For example, Puerto Rico is a territory with more than 3 million people.

They are part of the US, but the citizens there do not vote for president. But, they do not have to pay the same taxes.

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Another US territory is Guam. It is an island in the Pacific Ocean with about 165,000 people.

Name one US Territory. –> Puerto Rico

The United States flag has 50 stars. Each star represents one state.

The flag has 50 stars because we have 50 states.

Why does the flag have 50 stars? –> Because we have 50 states

Review: Current Leaders

Reading+Civics: Places

What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? –> The Pacific

The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast of the United States. It is too far away from us!

What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? –> The Atlantic

The United States borders Canada. That means the US is next to Canada.

Canada is to the north of the United States. Many states border Canada.

Washington is one example of a state that borders Canada.

Name one state that borders Canada. –> Washington

The United States also borders Mexico.

Mexico is to the South of the United States.

4 states border Mexico. California is one state that borders Mexico.

Name one state that borders Mexico. –> California

Reading and Civics: Leaders

Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House.

The leader of the House of Representatives is called the Speaker of the House.

Right now, the Speaker of the House is Nancy Pelosi, from California.

What is the name of the Speaker of the House now? –> Nancy Pelosi

The highest court in the United States is the Supreme Court.

The leader of the Supreme Court is called the Chief Justice.

Right now, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is John Roberts.

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? –> John Roberts

The leader of the federal government is the president.

The leader of a state is called the governor. In most states, we elect a governor for 4 years.

Extra information: In Vermont and New Hampshire, they elect a governor for only 2 years.

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You need to know the governor of your state. Right now, the governor of Oregon is Kate Brown. In Washington state, the governor is Jay Inslee.

Who is the Governor of your state now? –> Kate Brown (Oregon)

Who is the Governor of your state now? –> Jay Inslee (Washington)

Every state has two senators who go to Washington D.C. They work in the Senate.

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Senators work for all of the people in the state. You need to know at least one of the names of your state’s senators.

Oregon’s senators are Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

Washington’s senators are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

Who is one of your state’s US Senators now? –> Ron Wyden or Jeff Merkley (Oregon) –> Patty Murray or Maria Cantwell (Washington)

Each state also has representatives in the House of Representatives.

Some states have more representatives because they have more people. For example, Oregon has 5 representatives. But, Washington state has 10 representatives.

If you don’t know who your representative is, you can check using your zip code or address on the US House website.

The representative for Portland, Gresham, and some other places is Earl Blumenauer.

The representative for Beaverton and Washington County in Oregon is Suzanne Bonamici.

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If you live in Southwest Washington state, your representative is probably Jaime Herrera Beutler. She works for people in Vancouver, Longview, and other parts of Southwest Washington.

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Name your US Representative. –> Earl Blumenauer (Portland), Suzanne Bonamici (Beaverton and Washington County), Kurt Schrader (Lake Oswego, Wilsonville, and farther south), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Southwest Washington)

The United States is a democracy. This means every person has a voice, and every citizen has a vote.

American citizens can do many things to be part of our democracy. They can participate in many ways.

For example, citizens can vote for leaders they like. In Oregon and Washington, citizens can also vote on new laws for the state.

Another way Americans can participate is calling or emailing your representative.

When you call your representative, you can tell them your opinion about important things. A good representative will listen to the people.

A bad representative will not get your votes in the next election. 🙂

What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? –> Vote and Call your Representative

Civics Review

1. What is the capital of the United States?*
2. What is the capital of your state?*
3. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
4. What is the political party of the President now?
5. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
6. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
7. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
8. Who is the Governor of your state now?
9. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*
10. Name your U.S. Representative.
11. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?