166 Questions
Which branch of the national government is supposed to be the most important?
Legislative branch
What is the main job of the legislative branch?
Make laws
Which branch of the national government is in charge of executing the law?
Executive branch
Who nominates Supreme Court justices?
The executive branch
What is one of the checks that the executive branch has over the courts?
Refusing to carry out court decisions
Why did the Framers of the Constitution create checks and balances?
To protect the rights of the citizens
What is one of the checks that the judiciary has over the executive branch?
Declaring executive actions unconstitutional
Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?
Judicial branch
What is the purpose of checks and balances in the American government?
To create a balance of power between the three branches
Which branch of government has the greatest number of checks on the other branches?
Legislative branch
How can Congress limit the power of the judiciary?
All of the above
Which house of Congress must revenue bills start in?
The House of Representatives
What happens after a bill is referred to a committee?
The committee votes on the bill
What is the purpose of markup in the legislative process?
To write up the bill in formal, legal language
What happens if a bill receives the majority of votes in the House of Representatives?
It passes and moves on to the Senate
What is the purpose of a conference committee in the legislative process?
To reconcile different versions of a bill from both houses
What is a pocket veto?
When the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill and Congress goes out of session
What happens if Congress overrides a presidential veto?
The bill becomes a law over the President's signature
Which of the following is NOT a procedural hurdle that can kill a bill in Congress?
The President vetoing the bill
What is the purpose of the filibuster in Congress?
To delay or block the passage of a bill
What is the role of the House Rules Committee in the legislative process?
To create rules for debate on a bill
What is the purpose of the veto gates in the legislative process?
To make it difficult for Congress to act unless there's broad agreement
According to the text, what is the main focus of the electoral connection?
Getting elected
What is the purpose of Crash Course: Government and Politics?
To teach about government and politics
Who supports Crash Course US Government?
Voqal
According to the text, why are presidential elections often the focus of public attention?
Because the media covers presidential elections more extensively
According to the text, why is Congress considered the most important branch of government?
Because it is the branch that is most responsive to the people
According to the text, why are elections important for politicians in Congress?
Because they have to pay attention to what the constituents want
According to the Constitution, how often are members of the House of Representatives chosen?
Every two years
How often are elections held for 1/3 of the Senate?
Every two years
What determines the number of districts in the House of Representatives?
The Census
How are state Senators elected?
By the entire state
According to political scientist David Mayhew, what are the three categories of activities that Congressmen engage in to secure re-election?
Advertising, credit claiming, and position taking
What is the purpose of credit claiming in the context of Congressional elections?
To demonstrate accomplishments to voters
What is the franking privilege in the context of Congressional elections?
Allowance for sending election materials
What is the incumbency advantage in Congressional elections?
The advantage of being an already elected official
Who supports Crash Course US Government in producing their videos?
Voqal
What is the mission of Voqal?
To advance social equity
Who is Crash Course made with?
Staffer
Which of the following is true about standing committees in Congress?
They handle the day-to-day business of Congress
What is the main function of select committees in Congress?
To deal with particular issues beyond the jurisdiction of standing committees
What is the role of joint committees in Congress?
To be made up of members of both houses
Which committee oversees the Library of Congress?
Joint Committee on the Library
Why does Congress have so many committees?
All of the above
What is the power of controlling which ideas become bills called?
Gatekeeping Authority
Under the speakership of Newt Gingrich, what changes were made to the Congress?
All of the above
Which type of staff in Congress is responsible for performing unbiased factual research for Congresspeople and their staff?
Congressional Research Service
What is the purpose of caucuses in Congress?
To coordinate legislative efforts
What is the main function of committees in Congress?
To make the process of lawmaking more efficient
What is the role of the Speaker in Congress?
To refer bills to committee and act as gatekeeper
Who is responsible for choosing the House Majority Leader?
The Speaker of the House
Who is the de facto spokesperson for the minority party in the House?
The Minority Party
Who is the leader of the Senate?
The Majority Leader
What is the role of the President pro tempore in the Senate?
Presides over the Senate sessions
Who is the leader of the House of Representatives and what is their role?
The Speaker of the House, who is elected by the majority party and has significant power.
What is the primary task of the Majority Whip in the House of Representatives?
Counting votes on important legislation and ensuring party members vote along party lines.
How often are elections held to choose the Speaker of the House?
Every two years, coinciding with the election of the entire House of Representatives.
According to the text, why do the official leadership of Congress have little trouble raising money for campaigns?
Donors want to give to proven winners
According to the text, why do political parties raise so much money to win elections?
To have control over both houses and the presidency
According to the text, why do parties matter in Congress?
Parties provide a common set of values
According to the text, why did the Tea Party caucus make it difficult for Speaker Boehner to put forward an agenda?
They felt Boehner compromised too much with the Democrats
Which of the following is NOT one of the main factors that influence congressmen when they make decisions?
The media
What is sometimes called case work in Congress?
Direct service to constituents
What does the relative lack of important congressional votes in recent years suggest?
Congressmen are prioritizing direct service to constituents
Which party had the majority in both houses of Congress during the first few years of the Obama presidency?
Democrats
Which of the following is true about interest groups and their influence on congressmen?
Interest groups provide information that congressmen can use in writing bills.
What type of government is created when the president and the congressional majority are in opposite parties?
Divided government
What is the main role of political parties in influencing lawmakers?
Political parties pressure lawmakers to vote a certain way.
What was the main focus of Congress from 2010 to 2012?
Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act
What is the Hastert Rule?
A rule that requires a majority of the majority party to support a bill before it is brought to a vote.
According to the text, what factor makes the most difference in the decision-making process of Congress?
Structures of Congress and party majority
When do interest groups have the most influence on legislation?
During the writing of legislation in committees.
Who is the current President of the United States?
Barack Obama
What is the main purpose of starting with the Constitution in these episodes?
To provide a formal description of the executive branch
Who is responsible if the President becomes more powerful than what is suggested in the Constitution?
Congress
Which of the following is NOT a qualification for someone to become President of the United States?
Having previous experience as a member of Congress
Which of the following is a formal power of the President?
Sending soldiers to do military things
Why was the Electoral College created as the method for selecting the President?
To prevent the people from electing demigods or the person they wanted
What is the significance of the President's power to receive ambassadors?
It legitimizes the existence of a nation-state
Which president revived the practice of making the State of the Union an actual speech?
Woodrow Wilson
What power does the President have to veto laws passed by Congress?
Legislative power
What power does the President have to appoint judges?
Executive power
What power does the President have to grant pardons and reprieves?
Executive power
What are the expressed powers of the President?
The President is the commander in chief of the army and the navy.
What are informal powers of the President?
Informal powers are powers that are not mentioned in the Constitution but are implied by its wording.
What is the main focus of this episode of CrashCourse Government and Politics?
To discuss the powers of the President that are not in the Constitution.
Which power allows the President to act unilaterally and bypass the legislative process?
The power of executive orders
What is the main purpose of the President's power of impounding funds?
To prevent the implementation of certain programs or projects
What is the check on executive privilege?
A court order
What is a limitation of executive orders compared to laws passed through the normal channels?
They can be easily overturned by the next President
Which branch of government has the power to declare war?
The Congress
What is the purpose of the War Powers Resolution?
To limit the President's power to use troops without authorization
What is the main difference between an executive agreement and a treaty?
Executive agreements do not require ratification by the Senate, while treaties do
Where does the President's power to direct administrative agencies come from?
The President's power to appoint agency heads
Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?
Judicial branch
What is the main purpose of Article I of the Constitution?
To define the powers of Congress
What are the two types of powers held by Congress?
Enumerated powers and implied powers
Which amendment extended the power of taxation to include income taxes?
Sixteenth Amendment
Which amendment gave Congress the power to enforce the right to vote for citizens who are eighteen years of age or older?
Nineteenth Amendment
Which clause permits Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution its powers?
Necessary and Proper Clause
Which Supreme Court case affirmed the federal government's authority to establish a national bank under the tax and spend clause?
McCulloch v. Maryland
Which article of the Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies?
Article I
According to the text, which section of the Constitution allows Congress to control state laws that lay duties on imports or exports?
Section 10 of Article I
What power does Section 3 of Article III grant to Congress?
The power to create exceptions and regulations to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
According to the text, which article of the Constitution allows Congress to propose amendments?
Article V
Which branch of the federal government was involved in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Judicial
Who appointed William Marbury to a judicial position?
John Adams
What principle did the Marbury v. Madison case establish?
Principle of judicial review
What power did the Supreme Court announce in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Judicial review
Who wrote the opinion for the Supreme Court in the Marbury v. Madison case?
John Marshall
How did the Court interpret the text of the Judiciary Act of 1789 regarding its jurisdiction?
It granted the Court original jurisdiction
Which branch of the federal government did Marbury v. Madison help define the boundary between?
Judicial
Who appointed the several dozen Federalist Party supporters to new circuit judge and justice of the peace positions?
John Adams
What did Marbury v. Madison establish regarding the U.S. Constitution?
It is both law and a statement of political principles and ideals
Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the Marbury v. Madison case?
John Marshall
Which political party did William Marbury support?
Federalist Party
Why did Jefferson instruct James Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?
The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office.
What power did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?
The power of judicial review
Who wrote the Court's opinion in the Marbury v. Madison case?
John Marshall
What was the first question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Did Marbury have a right to his commission?
What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?
Writ of mandamus
What did the Court hold about the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over the case in Marbury v. Madison?
The Supreme Court had exclusive jurisdiction over the case.
What was the outcome of the Marbury v. Madison case?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Madison and upheld Jefferson's decision to withhold the commissions.
Who appointed the new judges and justices of the peace before leaving office?
John Adams
What was the political affiliation of William Marbury, the plaintiff in the case?
Federalist
Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when Marbury v. Madison was decided?
John Marshall
What was the main reason for Jefferson instructing Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?
The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office.
What power did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?
The power to invalidate laws that violate the Constitution.
What was the outcome of the Marbury v. Madison case?
The Supreme Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the case.
According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?
The right to claim protection of the laws
What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?
Writ of mandamus
What did the Court determine about the delivery of Marbury's commission?
It was merely a custom, not an essential element of the commission itself
What did the Court hold regarding the power of the Supreme Court to issue the writ of mandamus?
The courts could provide the legal remedy as long as it involved a mandatory duty to a specific person
Which president appointed the judges whose commissions were undelivered in the Marbury v. Madison case?
John Adams
What did Marbury believe was the proper remedy for his situation?
To have his commission delivered
What did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?
The power of judicial review
Who filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court asking for a writ of mandamus?
William Marbury
Who was the Chief Justice of the United States when the Supreme Court issued its decision in Marbury v. Madison?
John Marshall
What did the Supreme Court hold regarding Madison's refusal to deliver Marbury's commission?
It was illegal
What power did the Supreme Court establish in Marbury v. Madison?
Judicial review
What was the second question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Did Marbury have a legal remedy?
What was the third question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Did the Supreme Court have proper jurisdiction?
What did the Court determine about Marbury's commission?
It was valid and Madison's withholding was unlawful.
What was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation according to the Court?
A writ of mandamus.
Which president appointed William Marbury to a judicial position?
John Adams
What was the political party affiliation of William Marbury?
Federalist
What did Thomas Jefferson instruct his Secretary of State, James Madison, to do with the undelivered commissions?
Destroy them
Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the time of the Marbury v. Madison case?
John Marshall
Which party did the opposition Democratic-Republican Party favor during the presidential election of 1800?
Democratic Party
Who did Jefferson instruct to withhold the undelivered commissions of the appointees?
James Madison
What was the main reason for Madison's refusal to deliver Marbury's commission?
The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office
According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?
The right to claim protection of the laws
What type of court order did the Court determine to be the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?
Writ of mandamus
What was the basis for the Court's determination of its jurisdiction over the case?
Interpretation of the Judiciary Act of 1789
What did the Court conclude about Marbury's commission being withheld by Madison?
It violated Marbury's vested legal right
Which branch of the federal government did Marbury v. Madison help define the boundary between?
Judicial branch
Who appointed several dozen Federalist Party supporters to new circuit judge and justice of the peace positions?
John Adams
What principle did Marbury v. Madison establish in the United States?
Principle of judicial review
Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when Marbury v. Madison was decided?
John Marshall
What was the basis for the Court's determination of its jurisdiction over the case?
The Judiciary Act of 1789
What power did the Supreme Court announce in the Marbury v. Madison case?
Judicial review
Why did Jefferson instruct James Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?
He believed the commissions were void
According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?
The right to claim protection of the laws
What did the Court determine regarding the delivery of Marbury's commission?
Delivery of the commission was merely a custom, not an essential element
What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?
Writ of mandamus
What did Chief Justice John Marshall borrow from the Massachusetts State Constitution in his opinion?
The phrase 'The government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men.'
Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of American government with this quiz on separation of powers and checks and balances. See if you can distinguish between the three branches and understand how they work together to maintain a system of checks and balances. Challenge yourself with questions on this important aspect of government and politics.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
