CIVIC ORIENTATION
Sample Questions for Naturalization
CONSTITUTION
1.
What is the Constitution of the United States?
The
highest law for our country.
2.
When and where was the Constitution written?
In
Philadelphia in 1787.
3.
Who wrote the Constitution?
Delegates
of the 13 colonies.
4.
Where is the original document of the Constitution located?
In
the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
5.
Can the Constitution be changed?
Yes.
A change of the Constitution is called an Amendment.
6.
How many amendments are there to the Constitution?
27.
7.
What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
The
Bill of Rights.
8.
What important rights are listed under the Bill of Rights?
-
Freedom of Speech
-
Freedom of Press
-
Freedom of Religion
-
Freedom of Assembly
-
Trial by Jury
-
Protection of Life
-
Protection of Property
9.
Can any law be passed to take away these rights?
No,
because they are guaranteed to us by the Constitution.
10.
What is the 16th Amendment?
It
allows the Government to tax income.
11.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
It
says the President can only serve two terms.
12.
What is the 23rd Amendment?
It
gives people in Washington, D.C. the right to vote.
13.
What is the 24th Amendment?
It
allows people to vote without paying a voting fee.
14.
What is the 26th Amendment?
It
changes the voting age to 18 years of age.
15.
What form of government does the United States have?
A
republican form of government.
16.
What is a republican form of government?
A
government where the people rule by vote.
17.
Into how many parts or branches does the Constitution divide
our Government?
Three:
the Executive (which is the President), the Legislative (which is Congress),
and the Judicial (which is the Supreme Court).
EXECUTIVE
BRANCH - PRESIDENT
18.
Who is the President of the United States?
George
W. Bush.
19.
How is the President elected?
He
is elected indirectly by the people who elect the presidential electors.
The electors in turn vote for the President.
20.
How long is the term of office for a President?
Four
years.
21.
How many terms can a President serve?
Two
terms.
22.
Who was the first President of the United States?
George
Washington.
23.
Who is called the ÒFatherÓ of this country?
George
Washington.
24.
Who may become President of the United States?
Any
person born in the U.S., who is at least 35 years old and a resident
of the U.S. for at least 14 years.
25.
Who is the Executive Chief of the United States?
The
President.
26.
Who is the head of the Armed Forces?
The
President.
27.
What are the duties of the President?
He
enforces the laws, signs all bills, and appoints the ambassadors and
the judges to the Supreme Court.
28.
What body advises the President in making policy decisions?
A
cabinet made up of 11 members. For instance, the Attorney General, Secretary
of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Education, Secretary of
Agriculture, etc.
29.
What is meant by a presidential veto?
It's
the President's refusal to sign a bill that has been passed by Congress.
30.
If the President should die or resign, who would take his place?
The
Vice- President.
31.
Who may become Vice-President?
The
same qualifications for whom can become President of the United States.
32.
Who is the Vice-President?
Dick
Cheney.
33.
How is the Vice-President elected?
He
is elected in the same manner as the President.
34.
If the President and the Vice-President should both resign or
die, who would be President?
The
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
- CONGRESS
35.
Who makes the laws for the United States?
Congress
makes the laws.
36.
Into how many houses is Congress divided?
Two
houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
37.
Who may become a Congressman? (U.S. Representative)
An
American citizen 25 years old or more, who has lived in the United States
for more than 7 years as a U.S. citizen.
38.
What is the term of office for a Congressman (a member of the
House of Representatives)?
Two
years.
39.
How many Representatives does each state has?
The
number depends of the population of each state.
40.
Who is the Congressman from your congressional District?
______________________________________________
41.
How is a Congressman chosen?
A
congressman is elected by the people in the district that he/she represents.
42.
How does Congress pass laws?
A
bill or proposed law must be presented either in the Senate of the House
of Representatives. It must be approved by both Houses. Then the President
must sign it.
43.
Can Congress pass a bill even if the Presidents vetoes the bill?
Yes,
by two-thirds majority vote of Congress.
44.
Who may become a U.S Senator?
An
American citizen, 30 years old or more, who has lived in the U.S. for
more than 9 years as an American citizen.
45.
What is the term of office for a Senator?
Six
years.
46.
How many Senators are there in the United States Senate?
100
Ð 2 from each state.
47.
Who are the 2 Senators from Massachusetts?
Edward
Ted Kennedy
John
Kerry
JUDICIAL BRANCH
- SUPREME COURT
48.
What is the highest court in the United States?
The
Supreme Court.
49.
What does the Supreme Court do?
It
explains or interprets the laws.
50.
How many judges are there on the Supreme Court?
Nine
Ð eight associates and one chief justice.
51.
Who appoints the justices of the Supreme Court?
The
President, with the consent of the Senate.
52.
What is the name of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
William
Rhenquist.
53.
Where is the U.S. Supreme Court located?
In
Washington, D.C.
STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
54.
Who is the Governor of Massachusetts?
Mitt
Romney
55.
What is the capital of Massachusetts?
Boston.
56.
Who is the Mayor of Boston?
Thomas
Menino.
57.
Who makes the laws in Massachusetts?
State
Legislature.
WARS / HISTORY
58.
When was the Revolutionary War?
From
1775 to 1783.
59.
What was the Revolutionary War?
It
was the war between the 13 colonies and Britain over taxes and freedom.
The colonies won the war.
60.
What were the 13 original colonies?
1.
Connecticut
8. New York
2.
Delaware
9. North Carolina
3.
Georgia
10. Pennsylvania
4.
Maryland
11. Rhode Island
5.
Massachusetts
12. South Carolina
6.
New Hampshire
13. Virginia
7.
New Jersey
61.
What was George WashingtonÕs role in the Revolutionary War?
He
was the Commander-in-Chief of the American Army at the time of the Revolutionary
War.
62.
Why do we celebrate the 4th of July?
Because
it is our day of independence (freedom from England in 1776). It was
the day when the Declaration of Independence was signed. It was a document
signed by the delegates from the 13 colonies on July 4th ,
1776, declaring that the colonies were free and independent from Britain.
63.
When was the Civil War?
From
1861 to 1865.
64.
What was the Civil War?
It
was the war between the North and the South over slavery and economics.
The North won the war.
65.
Why did the North fight the South during the Civil War?
To
free the slaves and to save the Union.
66.
Who was the President during the Civil War?
Abraham
Lincoln.
67.
When was World War I?
1914
Ð 1918.
68.
When was World War II?
1941
Ð 1945.
69.
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington,
D.C (District of Columbia).
70.
How many states are there in the United States?
There
are 50 states.
71.
How does the Government get the money needed to carry on its
affairs?
By
taxation.
AMERICAN FLAG
72.
What are the colors of the American Flag?
Red,
white and blue.
73.
What do the colors stand for?
Red
is for courage, white is for purity, blue is for justice and truth.
74.
How many stars are there in the flag and what to the stars represent?
There
are 50 stars. They represent the 50 states.
75.
How many stripes are there and what do the stripes represent?
There
are 13 stripes. They represent the original 13 states.
76.
What is the American salute to the flag? (Pledge of Allegiance)
Ò I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the Republic for
which it stands; one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for allÓ
77.
Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance?
Francis
Bellamy.
STAR SPANGLED
BANNER
78.
What is the name of the National Anthem?
The
Star Spangled Banner.
79.
Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?
It
was written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key.
SYMBOL OF THE
U.S.
80.
What is the name of the bird that is the symbol of the United
States?
The
American Eagle.
GEOGRAPHY
81.
What are the highest mountains in the United States?
Rocky
Mountains.
82.
What is the longest river in the United States?
Mississippi
River.