B: System of Government

Question 1

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*

Answer 1

▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial

Question 2

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Answer 2

▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers

Question 3

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Answer 3

▪ the President

Question 4

16. Who makes federal laws?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

Question 6

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

Answer 6

▪ one hundred (100)

Question 7

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

Answer 7

▪ six (6)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

▪ Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C.
(or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

Question 9

21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer 9

▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

Question 10

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

Answer 10

▪ two (2)

Question 11

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

Answer 11

▪ Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may
provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has
no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]

Question 12

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Answer 12

▪ all people of the state

Question 13

25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

26. We elect a President for how many years?

Answer 14

▪ four (4)

Question 15

27. In what month do we vote for President?*

Answer 15

▪ November

Question 16

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

Answer 16

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

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

▪ the Vice President

Question 19

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

Answer 19

▪ the Speaker of the House

Question 20

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

Answer 20

▪ the President

Question 21

33. Who signs bills to become laws?

Answer 21

▪ the President

Question 22

34. Who vetoes bills?

Answer 22

▪ the President

Question 23

35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Answer 23

▪ advises the President

Question 24

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

Answer 24

▪ 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 25

37. What does the judicial branch do?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

38. What is the highest court in the United States?

Answer 26

▪ the Supreme Court

Question 27

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Answer 28

▪ Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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

Question 31

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

44. What is the capital of your state?*

Answer 32

▪ 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 33

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

Answer 33

▪ Democratic and Republican

Question 34

46. What is the political party of the President now?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

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