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

Who makes federal laws?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

the Senate and House (of Representatives)

Question 6

How many U.S. Senators are there?

Answer 6

100

Question 7

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

Answer 7

6

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Alex Padilla
Laphonza Butler

Question 9

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer 9

435

Question 10

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

Answer 10

2

Question 11

Name your U.S. Representative.

Answer 11

Katie Porter

Question 12

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Answer 12

all people of the state

Question 13

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

Answer 13

(because) some states have more people

Question 14

We elect a President for how many years?

Answer 14

4

Question 15

In what month do we vote for President?

Answer 15

November

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Joe Biden

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Kamala Harris

Question 18

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

Answer 18

vice president

Question 19

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

Answer 19

the Speaker of the House

Question 20

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

Answer 20

the president

Question 21

Who signs bills to become laws?

Answer 21

the president

Question 22

Who vetoes bills?

Answer 22

the president

Question 23

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

Answer 23

advises the President

Question 24

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

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

What is the highest court in the United States?

Answer 26

the Supreme Court

Question 27

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Answer 27

9

Question 28

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Answer 28

John Roberts

Question 29

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

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

Who is the Governor of your state now?

Answer 31

Gavin Newsom

Question 32

What is the capital of your state?

Answer 32

Sacramento

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Democratic and Republican

Question 34

What is the political party of the President now?

Answer 34

Democratic

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Mike Johnson