Civics Paper
? ▪ 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)-2-
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. www.uscis.gov 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.
B: System of Government
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
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)-2-
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. www.uscis.gov 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.
B: System of Government
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