US Civics: Voting

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