American Government - System of Government

Question 1

Name one branch or part of the government.*

Answer 1

Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial

Question 2

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Answer 2

checks and balances
separation of powers

Question 3

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Answer 3

the President

Question 4

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

Answer 4

the Senate and House (of Representatives)

Question 4

Who makes federal laws?

Answer 4

Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature

Question 5

How many U.S. Senators are there?

Answer 5

one hundred (100)

Question 6

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

Answer 6

six (6)

Question 7

Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*

Answer 7

Bernard Sanders
Peter Welch

Question 8

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer 8

four hundred thirty-five (435)

Question 9

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

Answer 9

two (2)

Question 10

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Answer 10

all people of the state

Question 11

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

Answer 11

(because of) the state’s population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people

Question 12

We elect a President for how many years?

Answer 12

four (4)

Question 13

In what month do we vote for President?*

Answer 13

November

Question 14

What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

Answer 14

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

Question 14

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Answer 14

the Speaker of the House

Question 15

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

Answer 15

Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.

Question 16

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Answer 16

the Vice President

Question 17

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

Answer 17

the President

Question 18

Who signs bills to become laws?

Answer 18

the President

Question 19

Who vetoes bills?

Answer 19

the President

Question 20

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Answer 20

advises the President

Question 21

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Answer 21

Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President

Question 22

What does the judicial branch do?

Answer 22

reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution

Question 23

What is the highest court in the United States?

Answer 23

the Supreme Court

Question 24

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Answer 24

9 Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

Question 25

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Answer 25

John G. Roberts Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.

Question 26

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Answer 26

to print money to declare war to create an army to make treaties

Question 27

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

Answer 27

provide schooling and education provide protection (police) provide safety (fire departments) give a driver’s license approve zoning and land use

Question 28

Who is the Governor of your state now?

Answer 28

Phil Scott Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]

Question 29

What is the capital of your state?*

Answer 29

Montpelier Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]

Question 30

What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

Answer 30

Democratic and Republican

Question 31

What is the political party of the President now?

Answer 31

Democrat Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the political party of the President.

Question 32

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Answer 32

Mike Johnson Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.