All posts in US Civics

Review: N400 and Civics

1. Do you support the Constitution and form of Government of the United States?
2. Do you understand the full Oath of Allegiance to the United States?
3. Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance to the United States?
4. If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States?

1. In what month do we vote for President?*
2. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
3. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
4. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
5. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
6. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
7. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
8. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
9. What does the judicial branch do?
10. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Civics and Reading

The United States is a democracy. Citizens choose leaders by voting in elections.

Voting is a special right that is only for United States citizens. When you become a citizen, you should register to vote!

Name one right only for United States citizens. –> Vote in a federal election

Voting is also a responsibility. Only you can make a decision about your vote. No one can do it for you. And if you don’t send your vote, it will not get done.

Another responsibility is to serve on a jury. In the US, a jury is a group of citizens who make a decision in court. A jury may make a decision about a crime and if someone is guilty or not.

A jury may also work with a judge in a case about other kinds of law, too. If you are a citizen, it is your responsibility to serve on a jury.

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?* –> Vote in a federal election / serve on a jury

Citizens have to be 18 to vote for president. In Oregon, citizens can register to vote when they are 16, and they automatically register when they get a drivers license. But, they have to wait to be 18 to really vote.

How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?* –> 18 and older

An amendment is a change to the Constitution. When the Constitution was written in 1787, only men with property could vote. Since then, Americans changed the Constitution 4 times:

• Men of all races can vote
• Voting must be free (no voting taxes)
• Women can vote (any citizen can vote)
• Citizens 18 and older can vote

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. –> Citizens 18 and older can vote / Any citizen can vote

When you register to vote, you can choose a political party. It is free to join a political party. It is your right to join any political party, or none.

But, you should join a political party so you can vote in a primary election.

What are the two major political parties in the United States?* –> Democratic and Republican

Review: Questions about the president

1. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
2. Who was the first president?
3. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?*
4. Who was President during World War I?
5. What is the political party of the President now?
6. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
7. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
8. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

Reading and Civics

The constitution defines the United States government. It sets up the legislative branch and the judicial branch.

We have read and learned about Congress and the Courts. There is one more major part of the American government. Do you know what it is?

The executive branch is the final part of the US government. The President is the leader of this part. The President is in charge of the executive branch.

Who is in charge of the executive branch? –> The President

The executive branch has many important departments and offices. The President has a lot of power in this part of the government.

The President is responsible for these departments, including:

• The State Department
• Homeland Security
• The Department of Justice
• The Department of Education
• The Department of Defense

The Department of Defense includes the military. The President is the Commander in Chief of the military. This means they are the #1 boss of the military.

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? –> The President

The President cannot make new federal laws. Congress makes federal laws. But, Congress must work with the President.

A new law is called a bill. If the Senate and the House agree on a bill, they send it to the President. If the President signs the bill with their name, it becomes a law.

Who signs bills to become laws? –> The President

But, sometimes the President does not agree with Congress. If the President does not sign the bill, it will not become a law.

When the Presidents says “no!” to a bill, it is called a veto. Only the President can veto a bill.

Who vetoes bills? –> The President

The writers of the Constitution did not want the United States to have a king. They did not want to have presidents serve for life.

So, we have a democratic election for President. We elect a President for 4 years.

We elect a President for how many years? –> 4

We vote for President almost at the end of the year. We vote for President in November. Election day is usually on the first Tuesday in November.

In what month do we vote for President?* –> November

1. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
2. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
3. Who signs bills to become laws?
4. Who vetoes bills?
5. We elect a President for how many years?
6. In what month do we vote for President?*

Bonus: How does the US elect a president?

This information helps us understand more about voting.

Questions for listening:

• Who votes for president?
• Why does it take a long time to count all the votes?
• What do we call the system of choosing the president with all 50 states and Washington D.C.?
• What is one good way to learn news about the US Election?

Review: About the Constitution

1. What is the “rule of law”?
2. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
3. Name one branch or part of the government.*
4. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
5. What is an amendment?
6. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
7. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
8. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
9. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
10. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

Reading and 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

There is one more 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.

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

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?

Review: US History

1. What is one reason colonists came to America?
2. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
3. Why did the colonists fight the British?
4. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
5. When was the Constitution written?
6. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
7. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
8. Who was President during World War I?
9. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
10. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

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

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 of the House of Representatives now?

Civics + Reading

After World War 2, the United States government was worried about the Soviet Union and Communism. This time is called “The Cold War.”

Communism means that the government owns almost everything. People cannot own property.

Communism is a different form of government than the US. The US has democracy and a market economy.

During the Cold War, the communist countries and capitalist countries fought to control the world.

The United States and Soviet Union did not fight directly, so we call it a “cold” war. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991.

During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? –> Communism

From The Civil War to the 1950s, most black people in America did not have equal rights.

White people used the law, education, and fear against black people and other racial groups. This was a terrible time of racial discrimination.

The Civil Rights Movement was a large group of protestors who tried to end racial discrimination. They protested, spoke, and got arrested.

What movement tried to end racial discrimination? –> The Civil Rights Movement

One of the Civil Rights Movement leaders was Martin Luther King Jr. He fought for civil rights.

He fought for civil rights by speaking. He fought for civil rights by writing. He fought for civil rights by protesting. He fought for civil rights by using civil disobedience. He was arrested almost 30 times.

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* –> Fought for civil rights

On April 4, 1968, King was killed by a white man. King was only 39 years old, but Americans will always remember him as a hero. We remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January.

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? That morning, terrorists attacked the United States.

They flew planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York. They flew a plane into the Pentagon, the main building for the military.

They tried to fly one more plane into the White House, but the people on the plane stopped the terrorists.

What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? –> Terrorists attacked the United States

Review

1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
2. Who was President during World War I?
3. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
4. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
5. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
6. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
7. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
8. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
9. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

History Review

1. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
2. What is one reason colonists came to America?
3. There were 13 original states. Name three.
4. Why did the colonists fight the British?
5. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
6. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
7. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
8. What does the Constitution do?
9. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
10. What is the name of the national anthem?
11. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
12. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Unfortunately, the United States fought many wars from 1900-1999.

The United States fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War.

World War I was in Europe, from 1914-1918. The United States joined world War I in 1917.

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.* –> World War One

Woodrow Wilson was president during World War One.

Who was President during World War I? –> Woodrow Wilson

On October 29th, 1929 the Great Depression started in the United States.

The stock market crashed and many banks lost all their money. Millions of Americans lost all their money and their jobs.

In this difficult time, Franklin Roosevelt ran for president. He helped start Social Security, food stamps, and many protections for all Americans.

Roosevelt was very popular because he helped Americans during the Great Depression. He was elected president four times!

He was still president on December 7, 1941, when the Navy of Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After that, the United States joined the fight of World War II. Roosevelt was also president during World War II.

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? –> (Franklin) Roosevelt

During World War II, the United States fought Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Who did the United States fight in World War II? –> Japan, Germany, and Italy

Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, before the end of the war. Because Roosevelt could no longer serve, the vice president became the president.

One important general in World War II was Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the war, he ran for president. He was president from 1953 to 1961.

Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
2. Who was President during World War I?
3. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
4. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
5. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

In the 1800s, the United States fought the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, and the Civil War.

The most important war in the 1800s was the Civil War, or the war between the states.

Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. –> The Civil War

The Civil War was a fight between the North and the South from 1861 to 1865.

More people in the North wanted to end slavery. States in the South wanted to continue slavery.

Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. –> The Civil War

The problem of slavery led to the Civil War. The Civil War led to the death of almost one million Americans.

Name one problem that led to the Civil War. –> Slavery

Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States during the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves.

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?* –> Freed the slaves

He signed a law called the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? –> Freed the slaves

After the war, Abraham Lincoln was killed.

Slides with questions to practice this information.

Civics Questions

• Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
• Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
• Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
• What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
• What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?