Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-001
What is the supreme law of the land? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers The Constitution is the supreme law: other laws and government actions must conform to it.
Constitution Basic framework of government Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-002
What does the Constitution do? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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sets up the government defines the government protects basic rights of Americans One acceptable answer is that it establishes government; it also defines government and protects basic rights.
protects Keeps safe from harm Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-003
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers “We the People” opens the Constitution and links government authority to the people.
self-government People governing themselves Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-004
What is an amendment? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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a change (to the Constitution) an addition (to the Constitution) An amendment changes or adds to the Constitution; it is not simply an ordinary statute.
amendment Change or addition Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-005
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments, which protect fundamental freedoms.
Bill of Rights First ten constitutional amendments Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 · 65/20 us-2008-006
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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speech religion assembly press petition the government Speech is one example. Religion, assembly, press and petitioning government are also published answers; only one is requested.
First Amendment First addition to the Constitution Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-007
How many amendments does the Constitution have? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers There are 27 amendments in the published bank. The first ten together form the Bill of Rights.
amendments Constitutional changes or additions Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-008
What did the Declaration of Independence do? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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announced our independence (from Great Britain) declared our independence (from Great Britain) said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) It announced independence from Great Britain. Distinguish declaring independence from the Constitution’s later framework for government.
Declaration of Independence Document declaring separation from Britain Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-009
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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life liberty pursuit of happiness Give two of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; for example, life and liberty.
liberty Freedom Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-010
What is freedom of religion? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. It includes practicing any religion or practicing none. Remember that freedom also protects the choice not to believe.
religion Religious belief or practice Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 · 65/20 us-2008-011
What is the economic system in the United States?* Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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capitalist economy market economy Capitalist economy and market economy are accepted descriptions: markets and private enterprise play central roles.
market economy Economy coordinated largely through markets Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2008 us-2008-012
What is the “rule of law”? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law. No one is above the law. No one is above the law: people, leaders and government must obey it. Any one published formulation expresses this principle.
rule of law Principle that law binds everyone Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-001
What is the form of government of the United States? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Republic Constitution-based federal republic Representative democracy Republic, constitution-based federal republic and representative democracy are accepted descriptions. Citizens govern through elected representatives within a constitutional framework.
Republic State without a hereditary monarch as head Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 · 65/20 us-2025-002
What is the supreme law of the land? * Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers The Constitution is the supreme law: other laws and government actions must conform to it.
Constitution Basic framework of government Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-003
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Forms the government Defines powers of government Defines the parts of government Protects the rights of the people One acceptable answer is that it establishes government; it also defines government and protects basic rights.
Protects Keeps safe from harm Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-004
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Self-government Popular sovereignty Consent of the governed People should govern themselves (Example of) social contract It means self-government or popular sovereignty: authority rests on the people’s consent. The listed social-contract wording is also accepted.
We the People Opening phrase meaning “we, the people” Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-005
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Amendments The amendment process Changes are made through amendments and the amendment process. Constitutional changes follow a special procedure, rather than ordinary lawmaking alone.
amendment process Procedure for changing the Constitution Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-006
What does the Bill of Rights protect? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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(The basic) rights of Americans (The basic) rights of people living in the United States It protects basic rights of Americans or people living in the United States. These protections are associated with the first ten amendments.
Bill of Rights First ten constitutional amendments Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 · 65/20 us-2025-007
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? * Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
Show accepted answers There are 27 amendments in the published bank. The first ten together form the Bill of Rights.
amendments Constitutional changes or additions Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-008
Why is the Declaration of Independence important? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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It says America is free from British control. It says all people are created equal. It identifies inherent rights. It identifies individual freedoms. One accepted reason is freedom from British control. Its statements on equality, inherent rights and individual freedoms are other published reasons.
Declaration of Independence Document declaring separation from Britain Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-009
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence announced separation from Britain. The Constitution later established the framework of the federal government.
founding document Text central to a country’s establishment Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-010
Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Equality Liberty Social contract Natural rights Limited government Self-government Equality and liberty are two examples. Social contract, natural rights, limited government and self-government are also published choices.
Limited government Government whose powers have limits Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-011
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Declaration of Independence These words are in the Declaration of Independence. They identify rights; they are not the opening words of the Constitution.
pursuit of Happiness Seeking one’s happiness Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 · 65/20 us-2025-012
What is the economic system of the United States? * Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Capitalism Free market economy Capitalist economy and market economy are accepted descriptions: markets and private enterprise play central roles.
market economy Economy coordinated largely through markets Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-013
What is the rule of law? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Everyone must follow the law. Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law. No one is above the law. No one is above the law: people, leaders and government must obey it. Any one published formulation expresses this principle.
rule of law Principle that law binds everyone Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-014
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers Virginia Declaration of Rights Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Mayflower Compact Iroquois Great Law of Peace The Declaration of Independence is one accepted example. Choose one document from the published list; you need not describe every influence.
influenced Helped shape an idea or text Source Last verified: 2026-10-11 Principles and values · Official question bank · 2025 us-2025-015
There are three branches of government. Why? Listen to or read the question and answer aloud before revealing the answers.
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So one part does not become too powerful Checks and balances Separation of powers Dividing authority prevents one part from becoming too powerful. Checks and balances and separation of powers express this purpose.
branches Divisions of governmental power Source Last verified: 2026-10-11