Name____________________ Date__________________ #_________
Study Guide-Civics Understandings
1. What are civic responsibilities? Civic responsibilities are duty that
citizens of a country are expected to fulfill.
2. What are some of the basic responsibilities of the citizens of the United
States? Obeying laws, paying taxes, serving on a jury when called, voting, and
registering for selective service
3. How do United States citizens help create an orderly, caring society? By
obeying laws
4. Why are laws important? Laws protect the rights of the people, keep
people safe, and describe how people should behave.
5. Why is paying taxes an important responsibility of U.S. citizens? Taxes
help the government pay for public parks, schools, libraries, and highways.
They also pay salaries of government employees such as police, firefighters,
Congressmen, and teachers.
6. What is the Selective Service System? All men are required at the age of
18 to register for this service. The Selective Service provides the
government with a list of men who can be drafted into the armed services in
the even of a national emergency.
7. What is the Bill of Rights? The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments
to the Constitution. It defines the individual rights of American citizens.
8. Which amendment says that citizens have other rights that are not
specifically stated in the Constitution? Amendment 9
9. What are the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment? Freedom of
religion, speech, press, and assembly; right to petition the government
10. What is an amendment? An amendment is a change in or an addition to
something.
11. What is the amendment process outlined in the Constitution?
(1)Amendments may be proposed by a 2/3 vote of each house in Congress or
by a national convention called by Congress.
(2) The amendment proposed must be approved by the legislatures of 3/4 of
the states or by conventions in 3/4 of the states.
12. What is the purpose of the amendment process? The purpose is to make
sure that the amendment is truly favored by the American people.
13. What two voting amendments make sure your vote counts in national
elections? Amendments 12 and 17
14. What is the purpose of 12th Amendment? It ordered electors to cast
separate votes for the president and vice president.
15. What is the purpose of the 17th Amendment? It ordered that senators
be elected by the people.
16. Know these five important voting amendments.
15th Amendment-gave African Americans the right to vote
19th Amendment-gave women the right to vote
23rd Amendment-gave residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote
24th Amendment-forbid the collection of poll taxes before a person could
vote
26th Amendment-lowered the voting age to 18
17. What is the United States motto? The motto is “e pluribus unum” which
in Latin means “out of many, one.”