Americanism and Government TESTING Program

Study Guide

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND HISTORY

  1. When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
  2. What were the Articles of Confederation?
  3. Who was responsible for writing most of the Constitution?
  4. When was the U.S. Constitution ratified?
  5. When was the Bill of Rights ratified?
  6. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to trial by jury?
  7. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishes the rights of free speech, religion, assembly, and petition?
  8. Which amendment protects individuals against cruel and unusual punishment?
  9. Which amendment gave women the right to vote?
  10. Which amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote?
  11. Which amendment protects individuals against unreasonable search and seizure?
  12. Which amendment limits a President to two full terms in office?
  13. What Supreme Court case in 1803 established the principle of Judicial Review?
  14. What Supreme Court case decision in 1954 ended segregation in public schools?
  15. During what years was the Civil War fought in the U.S.?
  16. Who was President of the U.S. during the Civil War?
  17. How many times (and in what years) has the U.S. Congress formally declared war against another country?
  18. When did the “Great Depression” occur in the U.S.?
  19. Who was the only U.S. President to be elected to office more than twice?
  20. What event on what date brought the U.S. into World War II?
  21. When was the Korean War fought?
  22. When was the Vietnam War fought?
  23. Who is currently the Commander in Chief of U.S. Military Forces?

U.S. GOVERNMENT

  1. What are the three branches of the U.S. Government?
  2. Who is the U.S. Senator from Indiana?
  3. Who is your representative in the U.S. House?
  4. What Congressional District do you live in?
  5. What is the name and title of the presiding officer in the U.S. Senate?
  6. What is the name and title of the presiding officer in the U.S. House?
  7. Which party holds the current majority in the U.S. Senate?
  8. Which party holds the current majority in the U.S. House?
  9. How many total members are there in the U.S. Senate?
  10. How many total members are there in the U.S. House?
  11. What is the minimum age to serve in the U.S. Senate?
  12. What is the minimum age to serve in the U.S. House?
  13. How many Congressional Districts does Indiana have?
  14. How many electoral votes are required to win a presidential election?
  15. How is the President chosen if no candidate wins the required number of electoral votes in an election?
  16. Which article in the U.S. Constitution establishes the office and power of the presidency?
  17. What is the major duty or responsibility of Congress?
  18. Which article of the U.S. Constitution establishes the office and power of the presidency?
  19. How long is a U.S. Senator’s term of office?
  20. How long is a U.S. Representative’s term of office?
  21. How long does the “Term of Congress” last?
  22. Which branch of U.S. Government has the power to declare war?
  23. Which branch of U.S. Government has the power to negotiate treaties with foreign nations?
  24. Which House of Congress has the authority to ratify treaties and by what required margin?
  25. What percentage vote is required to remove a president from office in an impeachment case?
  26. What body in U.S. Government has the authority to declare a law unconstitutional?
  27. How many Justices are seated on the U.S. Supreme Court?
  28. Which article of the U.S. Constitution provides provisions for amending the Constitution?
  29. How many states must ratify an amendment to the Constitution before it becomes effective?
  30. The IRS is part of what Cabinet Level Department?
  1. The heads of the branches of Armed Services form a group of military advisors to the President called the...?
  2. The first Ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the...?
  3. How many total amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution to date?
  4. How many votes does Indiana have in the Electoral College?
  5. Which House of Congress has the authority to propose Constitutional amendments?
  6. What are the Constitutional qualifications for the presidency?
  7. What is the major Constitutional duty of the Vice President?
  8. What are all of the Cabinet Departments, and what are their respective duties and responsibilities?
  9. What Cabinet Department has responsibility over the Conduct of Foreign Policy?
  10. When is the next presidential election?
  11. How long is the term of office for a Federal Court Judge?
  12. Name the two houses in the U.S. Congress.
  13. What percentage vote is required to override a presidential veto?
  14. What act of Congress in 1973 limits the power of the President to engage U.S. forces in combat without a declaration of war by Congress?
  15. What is the Department of HHS?
  16. What percent vote, by which House of Congress, is required to confirm an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Secretary of State

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Treasury

Attorney General

Secretary of Education

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of HUD

Secretary of HHS

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Interior

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

EPA

Vietnam Ambassador

Secretary of Transportation

Chairman JCS

New Supreme Court Justice

Speaker of the House

President Pro Tem Senate

President of Senate

Senate Majority Leader

House Majority Leader

House Minority Leader

Senate Minority Leader

Federal Reserve Chairman

Supreme Court Chief Justice

President’s Chief of Staff

Budget Director

Surgeon General

FBI Director

CIA Director

INDIANA GOVERNMENT AND HISTORY

  1. What year did Indiana become a state?
  2. What year was the present Indiana Constitution written?
  3. Where was Indiana’s first territorial capital?
  4. Where was Indiana’s first state capital?
  5. What is Indiana’s present state capital?
  6. Name the present Governor of Indiana.
  7. Name the present Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
  8. How many stars are on the Indiana State Flag?
  9. What large animal appears on the official Seal of the State of Indiana?
  10. Who was the first Governor of the Indiana territory in 1800?
  1. Who was the first Governor of the state of Indiana?
  2. What is the proper name of the Indiana State Legislature?
  3. How many members are in the Indiana State Senate?
  4. How long is the term of office of an Indiana State Senator?
  5. How many members in the Indiana State House?
  6. How long is the term of office of a member of the Indiana House?
  7. How long is the term of office of the Governor?
  8. When will the Governor be elected next?
  9. How long is the term of the Indiana Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditors of State, and Attorney General?
  10. What Indiana government agency is responsible for collecting state taxes?
  11. What Indiana government agency is responsible for negotiating and overseeing landfills and trash disposal in the state?
  12. What Indiana state department or agency has jurisdiction over policies for management of natural resources, historic landmarks, and recreation areas?
  13. What are the major duties of the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana?
  14. What is the minimum age to serve as Governor in Indiana?
  15. Who presides over the Indiana Department of Commerce?
  16. How many State Appeals Court Districts are there in Indiana?
  17. What Indiana government agency has the authority to audit and examine the records of all state and local government agencies?
  18. What Indiana government agency has the authority over laws regarding matters of health and sanitation standards in the state?
  19. What official appoints judges to the Indiana Supreme Court?
  20. How many days per year does the Indiana General Assembly meet?
  21. What official directs the Indiana Department of Education?
  22. Who is the Chief Executive of the State of Indiana?
  23. What state agency is responsible for registration, titling, and licensing of motor vehicles?
  24. What state agency was formally called the “State Board of Health”?
  25. What state official represents the state of Indiana lawsuits in which the state has an interest?
  1. What restriction on “number of terms served” exists for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Auditor of State?
  2. What is the official motto for the state of Indiana?
  3. How was the name of our state (Indiana) derived?
  4. What Indiana official is the official receiver and custodian of all state revenue?
  5. What Indiana official is the official bookkeeper and auditor of receipts and disbursements for the state?
  6. What official is the head of the state military forces?
  7. Primary elections in Indiana are held during the month of...?
  8. General elections are on what day of the week?
  9. What is the agency or department in Indiana government responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways?
  10. What is the minimum age to serve in the Indiana House of Representatives?
  11. What is the minimum age to serve in the Indiana Senate?
  12. Can the Indiana General Assembly override a Governor’s vote by a veto in both houses?
  13. Amendments to the Indiana Constitution must be ratified by a majority vote of...?

COUNTYGOVERNMENT

  1. How many counties are there in the State of Indiana?
  2. When was the first county organized in Indiana?
  3. What is the significance of ParkeCounty’s auto license plates beginning with the number 61?
  4. State Circuit Courts are often called County Courts. How many Circuit Courts are there in Indiana?
  5. The agency in county government responsible for the administration of all business is the...?
  6. How many people sit on the Board of County Commissioners?
  7. How long is the term of office of the Board of County Commissioners?
  8. What county government agency has the primary or chief financial power in county government?
  9. To what county officials are property taxes paid?
  10. How many members are there on a County Planning Commission and how are they chosen?
  11. What county agency establishes county property tax rates?
  12. The CountySheriff is elected for a term of how many years?
  13. The Judge of the Circuit Court is elected for a term of how many years?
  14. What is the official title of the CountyClerk?
  15. Who is the county official responsible for the keeping of all county records?
  1. Who is the county official responsible for prosecuting alleged violators of state laws?
  2. Who is the county official responsible for collecting, controlling, and disbursing county funds?
  3. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the county is the...?
  4. The Chief Administrative Officer of the township is the...?
  5. How many members are in the County Council and how long is their term?
  6. The county official responsible for determining the official cause of death in all questionable cases is the...?
  7. What township official is responsible for establishing the value of real estate and personal property for tax purposes?
  8. What are the lengths of each county elected office?
  9. What does CAGIT refer to in county government?
  10. Each county is divided into several smaller governmental units called what?

U.S. FLAG HISTORY

  1. How many stars are on the U.S. Flag?
  2. What do the stars represent?
  3. How many stripes are on the U.S. Flag?
  4. What do the stripes represent?
  5. What day is celebrated as Flag Day?
  6. Can the U.S. Flag be displayed at night? If so, under what conditions?
  7. When may the Flag of the United States be flown at half-staff (half-mast)?
  8. What is the procedure for raising the Flag to half-staff?
  9. If the U.S. Flag is used to cover a casket at a funeral, can the Flag be lowered into the grave?
  10. Is it acceptable to use the U.S. Flag for advertising purposes?
  11. When can the U.S. Flag be displayed properly with the Union down?
  12. T or F: The U.S. Flag should be displayed on or near the main building of all public institutions and government buildings.
  13. T or F: The U.S. Flag should be displayed during each school day at or near all school buildings.
  14. T or F: The U.S. Flag should be displayed so as to never touch anything below it.
  15. T or F: Flags of different nations should not be flown from the same staff.
  16. T or F: No Flag of any other nation is to be displayed above or to the right of the U.S. Flag.
  17. T or F: When the U.S. Flag is displayed flat, as against a wall, the union is to appear on the Flag’s right, which is to say, to the viewers left.
  18. T or F: When the U.S. Flag is displayed in a marching procession of many flags it should be placed either in the marching right or at the front center of the line.
  19. T or F: The U.S. Flag should never have any mark, insignia, decoration, or picture placed on or attached to it.

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