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

▪ one hundred (100)

Question 7

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

Answer 7

▪ six (6)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

▪ Kirsten E. Gillibrand

▪ Charles E. Schumer

Question 9

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer 9

▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

Question 10

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

Answer 10

▪ two (2)

Question 11

Name your U.S. Representative.

Answer 11

▪ Charles B. Rangel

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

Question 14

We elect a President for how many years?

Answer 14

▪ four (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

▪ Barack Obama

▪ Obama

Question 17

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

Answer 17

▪ Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
▪ Joe Biden
▪ Biden

Question 18

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

Answer 18

▪ the 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

▪ nine (9)

Question 28

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Answer 28

▪ John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

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

▪ Andrew M. Cuomo

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 (Party)

Question 35

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

Answer 35

▪ (John) Boehner