WorksheetsDemocracy and Declaration of Independence Worksheet
Total questions: 84
Worksheet time: 42mins
What is democracy?
Rule by one person
System where people choose their leaders
Government controlled by the military
Power held only by the wealthy
What is the key feature of democracy?
Citizens have a voice in government
Only the president can make laws
Judges control the government
No elections are held
What is a representative democracy?
People vote on every law directly
Citizens elect leaders to make decisions for them
Only wealthy citizens can vote
States choose all government officials
What is the main difference between a U.S. citizen and a non-citizen?
Citizens can vote and hold public office
Non-citizens don’t pay taxes
Citizens can’t attend public schools
Non-citizens can’t own homes
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To start a war with Britain
To list complaints and declare independence
To create a new government
To write new laws
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
What rights are listed in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Free speech and press
What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
Too much power to the president
No power to tax or enforce laws
Too many states
Too many courts
What is the purpose of the Preamble?
To list new laws
To state the goals of the Constitution
To describe government offices
To replace the Declaration of Independence
What was the Great Compromise about?
Creating three branches of government
How Congress would be organized
Choosing the first president
Ending slavery
What did the 3/5 Compromise decide?
Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining the states population
How long presidents serve
How laws are made
How taxes are collected
What is the purpose of the legislative branch?
Enforce laws
Make laws
Interpret laws
Veto laws
Who is the head of the legislative branch?
The President
Congress
The Supreme Court
The Vice President
What are the two houses of Congress?
House of Representatives and Senate
Parliament and Supreme Court
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
100
9
435
50
How long is a representative’s term?
2 years
4 years
6 years
Lifetime
Who is the presiding officer of the House?
Chief Justice
Speaker of the House
Vice President
President Pro Tempore
What are the qualifications to be in the House of Representatives?
At least 25, citizen for 7 years, live in state represented
At least 30, citizen for 9 years, live anywhere
At least 35, born in the U.S., resident 14 years
No requirements
How is the number of representatives for each state determined?
State size
Population of the state
Number of senators
Age of state
Where do all tax bills begin?
Senate
Supreme Court
House of Representatives
Executive Branch
What vote is needed to override a president’s veto?
One-third
Half
Two-thirds
Three-fourths
How many senators are there in the U.S. Senate?
50
100
435
9
What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?
2 years
4 years
6 years
Lifetime
Who is the presiding officer of the Senate?
President
Vice President
Speaker of the House
Chief Justice
What are the qualifications to be a U.S. Senator?
At least 30, citizen for 9 years, live in the state
At least 25, citizen for 7 years, live in the U.S.
At least 21, citizen for 3 years
At least 40, born in the U.S.
What is the main purpose of the executive branch?
Enforce laws
Make laws
Interpret laws
Overturn laws
Who is the head of the executive branch?
Congress
Supreme Court
President
Cabinet
What are the qualifications to be president?
35 years old, natural-born citizen, live in U.S. 14 years
30 years old, citizen for 10 years
25 years old, live in U.S. 7 years
No requirements
One power of the president is:
to veto bills and command the military
to declare laws unconstitutional
to appoint state governors
to pass state laws
What is the order of presidential succession?
Vice President → Speaker of the house→ President Pro Tempore → Secretary of State
Chief Justice → Congress → President
Speaker → Secretary of Defense → Senate Majority Leader
Governor → Vice President → Secretary of State
What is the Cabinet?
Advisors who help the president run departments
Members of Congress
Supreme Court Justices
Military officers
What is the Electoral College?
Group that elects the president and vice president
Congress
School for elections
Citizens' vote count
How many members are in the Electoral College?
100
435
270
538
What is one flaw in the Electoral College?
Candidate can win without popular vote
Votes aren't secret
States vote twice
It costs too much
What is the purpose of the judicial branch?
Interpret laws
Make laws
Enforce laws
Approve budgets
Who is the head of the judicial branch?
President
Congress
How many Supreme Court justices are there?
7
9
11
13
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
4 years
6 years
Lifetime
12 years
Why do justices serve for life?
So they can make fair, independent decisions
For higher pay
Because Congress requires it
To avoid elections
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
To prevent any branch from becoming too powerful
To create new laws
To elect officials
To make government faster
Which branch can reject treaties?
Judicial Branch
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
State Government
Which branch can impeach judges?
Legislative Branch (House)
Judicial Branch
Executive Branch
Local Government
Which branch can refuse to confirm presidential appointments?
Supreme Court
Senate
Which branch can veto a bill?
Judicial Branch
Executive Branch (President)
Legislative Branch
State Government
Which branch appoints Supreme Court judges?
Judicial Branch
Executive Branch (President)
Legislative Branch
Local Government
Which branch can declare the president’s actions unconstitutional?
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
Legislative Branch
State Government
Which branch can declare laws unconstitutional?
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
Legislative Branch
State Governments
What is federalism?
Sharing of power between national and state governments
Only national government has power
Only states have power
Power shared by citizens and courts
What are concurrent powers?
Powers shared by both federal and state governments
Powers given to the president
Powers for local governments
Powers for citizens
What are reserved powers?
Powers kept by the states
Powers for the president
What are delegated powers?
Powers given to the federal government
Powers shared with states
Powers kept by citizens
Powers for cities
What is eminent domain?
Power to take private property for public use
Power to raise taxes
Power to declare war
Power to print money
Who can tax citizens?
Both state and federal governments
Only federal
Only state
Only local
Who sets the drinking age?
State governments
Federal government
President
Supreme Court
Who coins money?
Federal government
States
Both
Local
Who admits new states?
Federal government
State governments
Local governments
President
Who sets citizenship laws?
Federal government
States
Cities
Congress
Who can take private property for public use?
Both federal and state governments
Only states
Only federal
Only local
Who manages schools?
State governments
Federal government
Cities
Businesses
Who can institute a military draft?
Federal government
State governments
Local governments
Citizens
What is an amendment?
A change or addition to the Constitution
A new law
A treaty
A rule by Congress
Why were amendments created?
To protect rights and improve the Constitution
To replace the Articles of Confederation
To shorten the Constitution
To create new branches
What does the 1st Amendment protect?
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
The right to bear arms
Freedom from search and seizure
The right to vote
What does the 2nd Amendment protect?
The right to keep and bear arms
Free speech
Freedom of religion
Fair trial
What does the 4th Amendment protect?
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
The right to vote
The right to own land
Free speech
What does the 6th Amendment guarantee?
Right to a fair and speedy trial
Freedom of speech
Protection from search and seizure
Freedom from taxes
What does the 8th Amendment protect?
Protection from cruel and unusual punishment
Right to vote
Right to bear arms
Right to free press
What did the 13th Amendment do?
Ended slavery
Gave women voting rights
Lowered voting age
Ended Prohibition
What did the 14th Amendment do?
Gave citizenship and equal protection under the law
Ended slavery
Created income tax
Ended Prohibition
What did the 15th Amendment do?
Gave African American men the right to vote
Ended slavery
Gave women voting rights
Ended Prohibition
What did the 18th Amendment do?
Banned alcohol (Prohibition)
Gave women voting rights
Ended slavery
Lowered voting age
The 19th Amendment did which of the following?
Granted women the right to vote
Abolished slavery
Lowered the voting age to 18
Ended prohibition
What did the 21st Amendment do?
Ended Prohibition(allowed alcohol)
Gave women the right to vote
Created Congress
Lowered voting age
What did the 26th Amendment do?
Lowered voting age to 18
Ended slavery
Created income tax
Ended Prohibition
What are the qualifications to serve in the Illinois General Assembly?
21 years old, U.S. citizen, live in district for 2 years
25 years old, citizen 10 years
30 years old, born in Illinois
18 years old, citizen for 1 year
What is the term length for a member of the Illinois House of Representatives?
2 years
4 years
6 years
10 years
What is the term length for an Illinois Senator?
2 or 4 years depending on the cycle
Always 4 years
Always 2 years
Lifetime
How long is the term of the Illinois Governor?
2 years
4 years
6 years
10 years
How many justices are on the Illinois Supreme Court?
7
5
9
6
How long is the term of an Illinois Supreme Court Justice?
4 years
6 years
10 years
Lifetime
What is the capital of Illinois?
Chicago
Peoria
Springfield
Rockford
What is the U.S. Flag Code?
A set of rules for showing respect and care for the flag
A law about elections
A list of holidays
A military code
What should you do with a worn or tattered flag?
Throw it away
Bury it
Burn it respectfully in a dignified ceremony
Fold it and store it
What does it mean when the flag is flown at half-mast?
To honor or mourn someone who has died
To celebrate a holiday
To signal peace
To show victory
