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

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

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

Grace Meng

Question 12

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Answer 12

all the people of the state

Question 13

Why do some states have more
Representatives than other states?

Answer 13

(because of) the state’s population

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

president

Question 21

Who signs bills to become laws?

Answer 21

president

Question 22

Who vetoes bills?

Answer 22

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

Kathy Hochul

Question 32

What is the capital of your state?*

Answer 32

Albany

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