Numbers to memorize

These are the numbers you have to say as an answer, grouped the way the government is: the Constitution, Congress, the President, the Supreme Court and voting.

An easy way to remember the terms: count up by twos. Representatives serve 2 years, the President serves 4, and senators serve 6.

Most numbers that appear inside a question, such as ages 18 through 25, are not listed: the officer says those for you. A few are included because the answer depends on them: the 10th Amendment, whose question asks what it says, and 13 and 50, which explain the stripes and stars on the flag.

1. 27

   Amendments to the Constitution

   • Q7 How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? 27 Read it in the story →

   The first 10 are the Bill of Rights; the most recent was ratified in 1992.

2. 10th

   The amendment that leaves all other powers to the states or the people

   • Q60 What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment? Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people Read it in the story →

   The last of the 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights. The question names it; you have to know what it says.

3. 14th

   The amendment that makes everyone born or naturalized here a citizen

   • Q97 What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are U.S. citizens? 14th Amendment Read it in the story →

   Passed in 1868, right after the Civil War.

4. 100

   U.S. senators

   • Q21 How many U.S. senators are there? 100 Read it in the story →

   2 senators for each of the 50 states: 2 × 50 = 100.

5. 2

   Senators from each state

   • Q27 How many senators does each state have? Two Read it in the story →

   Every state is equal in the Senate, large or small.

6. 6

   Years in a senator's term

   • Q22 How long is a term for a U.S. senator? Six years Read it in the story →

   The longest term, so the Senate stays steady.

7. 435

   Voting members of the House of Representatives

   • Q24 How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? 435 Read it in the story →

   Fixed since the early 1900s and divided among the states by population.

8. 2

   Years in a representative's term

   • Q25 How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? Two years Read it in the story →

   The shortest term, so the House follows public opinion closely.

9. 4

   Years in a president's term

   • Q36 The President is elected for how many years? Four years Read it in the story →

   A president can serve at most two terms.

10. 9

    Seats on the Supreme Court

    • Q53 How many seats are on the Supreme Court? Nine Read it in the story →

    Set by Congress in 1869 and unchanged since.

11. 5

    Justices usually needed to decide a case

    • Q54 How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case? Five Read it in the story →

    A majority of the 9 seats.

12. 18

    The voting age for citizens

    • Q63 Describe one of the four amendments about who can vote. Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote Read it in the story →

    Lowered from 21 by the 26th Amendment in 1971: old enough to fight, old enough to vote.

13. 13

    Original colonies, and so the 13 stripes on the flag

    • Q121 Why does the flag have 13 stripes? Because there were 13 original colonies Read it in the story →

    The 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776 became the first 13 states.

14. 50

    States, and so the 50 stars on the flag

    • Q122 Why does the flag have 50 stars? Because there are 50 states Read it in the story →

    One star for each state. The 50-star flag first flew on July 4, 1960, after Alaska and Hawaii joined.