Citizenship 2023 (Massachusetts) - American Government - B: System of Government Flashcards
- Name one branch or part of the government.
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial
- What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
- Who is in charge of the executive branch?
▪ the President
- Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
- How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ one hundred (100)
- We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
▪ six (6)
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
▪ Elizabeth Warren
▪ Ed Markey
- The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)
- We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
▪ two (2)
- Name your U.S. Representative.
▪ Katherine Clark
- Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
▪ all people of the state
- Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people
- We elect a President for how many years?
▪ four (4)
- In what month do we vote for President?
▪ November
- What is the name of the President of the United States now?
▪ Joseph R. Biden Jr.
- What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
▪ Kamala Harris
- If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ the Vice President
- If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ the Speaker of the House
- Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
▪ the President
- Who signs bills to become laws?
▪ the President
- Who vetoes bills?
▪ the President
- What does the President’s Cabinet do?
▪ advises the President
- What are two Cabinet-level positions?
▪ 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
- What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
- What is the highest court in the United States?
▪ the Supreme Court
- How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
▪ 9
- Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
▪ John G. Roberts, Jr.
- Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal
government?
▪ to print money
▪ to declare war
▪ to create an army
▪ to make treaties
- Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
▪ provide schooling and education
▪ provide protection (police)
▪ provide safety (fire departments)
▪ give a driver’s license
▪ approve zoning and land use
- Who is the Governor of your state now?
▪ Maura Healey
- What is the capital of your state?
▪ Boston
- What are the two major political parties in the United States?
▪ Democratic and Republican
- What is the political party of the President now?
▪ Democratic
- What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
▪ Kevin McCarthy
