Presidential and Legislative Powers Quiz

The head of the executive branch of the US government, elected for a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms.

A formal disapproval of a bill or legislation by the president, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The power of the president to forgive a person for a crime, absolving them of punishment.

An agreement between two or more countries, negotiated by the president and needing Senate approval.

The leader of the Senate, who presides over the sessions and becomes president if the current president is no longer able to serve.

A group of advisers to the president, each heading a specific executive department.

A formal accusation of misconduct against a government official, initiated by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate.

The highest court in the US, interpreting laws and having the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

A famous battle in the American Civil War, where Union forces successfully repelled Confederate General Lee's invasion into the North, marking a critical turning point in the war.

This amendment to the US Constitution formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, making it illegal to hold people against their will.

A significant military campaign led by Union General Sherman, where he destroyed Confederate resources and infrastructure in Georgia, weakening the Southern economy and contributing to the Union victory.

Commander of Confederate forces, General Lee's surrender to Union forces at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia marked the end of the Civil War.

A proclamation issued by President Lincoln during the Civil War that declared all slaves in Confederate states to be free. Though initially met with resistance, it proved to be a major turning point in ending slavery and bolstering the Union cause.

The 1854 law that allowed states to decide whether to allow slavery within their borders. This law overturned the Missouri Compromise, which had previously prohibited slavery north of the 36°30' parallel.

A period of violence in Kansas, where pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups clashed over the issue of slavery.

The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, effectively legalizing slavery.

The beginning of the Civil War, marked by a Confederate attack on a Union fort in South Carolina.

A key battle in the Civil War, fought in Virginia. Union forces were defeated, causing them to retreat back to Washington, D.C.

A battle in Virginia where two armored warships (ironclads) clashed. This was the first engagement between ships of this type and ended in a draw.

A major battle fought in Tennessee, where Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant defeated Confederate troops. This victory gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

A Confederate attack on federal troops in Maryland, resulting in a major Union victory. This battle marked a turning point in the war, forcing the Confederate army to retreat.

The brutal 1955 murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was lynched for whistling at a white woman, sparked the Civil Rights Movement. His mother's decision to have an open casket funeral brought national attention to the racial violence rampant in the South.

Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. The boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., lasted 381 days, which significantly impacted the city's bus system and brought national prominence to King.

The desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 involved nine African American students who had to be escorted by federal troops to attend school. This event highlighted continued resistance to the Supreme Court's earlier rulings.

Student-led sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Greensboro, North Carolina, marked the beginning of a nationwide wave of nonviolent protests in 1960. These peaceful demonstrations resulted in the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom saw over 250,000 people gather in Washington D.C., demanding civil and economic rights for African Americans. This event made history with Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful 'I Have a Dream' speech, advocating for racial equality and an end to discrimination.

The tragic murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi in 1964 by the Ku Klux Klan during the Freedom Summer voter registration campaign brought national attention to the violence faced by Civil Rights activists.

Passed in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Civil Rights Act prohibited nationwide discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This landmark legislation played a vital role in achieving equal rights for all Americans.

This 1960s movement aimed to achieve equality for all Americans, regardless of their race or ethnicity, ending segregation and discrimination.

A series of marches demanding voting rights for African Americans that took place in Selma, Alabama in 1965. The marches were met with violent resistance from police, culminating in the infamous 'Bloody Sunday' incident on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The event sparked national outrage and played a crucial role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

A landmark civil rights legislation passed in 1965 that outlawed discriminatory voting practices based on race. It empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration and elections in areas with a history of discrimination, effectively addressing the legacy of Jim Crow.

The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a sanitation workers’ strike. The event sparked nationwide riots and mourning, marking a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement with increased focus on economic equality.

Andrew Jackson, the first U.S. president to be impeached in 1868, was accused of violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval. He faced 11 articles of impeachment, primarily for opposing Congressional Reconstruction policies. Ultimately, he was acquitted by the Senate by one vote, avoiding removal from office.

The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States that involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and a subsequent cover-up. It led to the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon in 1974. He resigned before the House could vote on impeachment, becoming the only U.S. president to resign.

The impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1999 was sparked by allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Although impeached by the House of Representatives, he was acquitted by the Senate, as neither charge received the necessary two-thirds majority for removal from office.

The process by which a president can be officially removed from office. This involves a two-step process where the House of Representatives impeaches (accuses) the president and the Senate conducts a trial for removal.

The 16th U.S. President best known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people in Confederate states. He played a pivotal role in abolishing slavery and preserving the Union during the Civil War. Sadly, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

The 7th U.S. President, known as a champion of the "common man," he expanded voting rights, but infamously forced Native American tribes westward. He also founded the Democratic Party.

The founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith was killed by a mob while awaiting trial for treason. He is a significant figure in religious history, and his teachings continue to impact the Mormon faith.

A British monarch during the American Revolution, King George III is associated with the period of unrest leading to the colonies' declaration of independence. He played a key role in shaping the historic events that defined the birth of the United States.

The leader of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, George Washington led his forces to victory against the British. He later became the first President of the United States, setting the stage for the nation's future.

The main author of the Declaration of Independence, a founding father, and the 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson strongly advocated for individual liberty and limited government. He also acquired the Louisiana Purchase, significantly expanding the territory of the young nation.

The author of the Federalist Papers, a key figure in the ratification of the Constitution, and the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton played a crucial role in shaping the financial and political system of the early United States.

The 18th President of the United States and a Union general during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant played a crucial role in the victory over the Confederacy. He is known for his strategic leadership and for bringing an end to the Civil War.