24 Questions
What is the primary responsibility of the Department of State?
Developing and implementing foreign policy
Which department is responsible for ensuring public safety against threats foreign and domestic?
Department of Justice
What is the primary function of the Department of the Interior?
Protecting America's natural resources and conducting scientific research
Which department is responsible for providing federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime?
Department of Justice
What is the Department of Agriculture responsible for?
Developing and executing policy on farming, agriculture, and food
What is the primary responsibility of the Department of Defense?
Providing military forces to protect national security
What is the mission of the Department of the Interior?
To protect America's natural resources and conduct scientific research
What is the Department of Treasury responsible for?
Promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the soundness and security of financial systems
What is the main purpose of the system of checks and balances in the federal government?
To restrict the power of each branch and prevent concentration of power
What is the primary responsibility of the federal government in terms of foreign policy?
Determining foreign policy and declaring war
Which of the following powers is reserved for the state governments?
Establishment of schools
What is the primary function of the separation of powers in the federal government?
To divide the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate bodies
What is an example of a concurrent power shared by both the federal and state governments?
The power to tax
Which of the following is an example of a delegated power?
Regulation of interstate and international trade
What is the main purpose of federalism in the United States?
To divide power between the federal and state governments
Which branch of government is responsible for making laws in the federal government?
Legislative branch
What is the main function of the Legislative Branch?
To make laws
What is the purpose of the separation of powers?
To limit the possibility of arbitrary excesses by government
How are the members of the House of Representatives chosen?
They are elected by the citizens of each state
What is the term of each representative in the House of Representatives?
Two years
What is the purpose of the Senate?
To represent the interests of each state
Which of the following is a function of the House of Representatives?
To initiate proceedings to impeach the President
What happens if the Electoral College cannot produce a majority to elect a President?
The House of Representatives chooses the President
What happens if both the President and the Vice-President die, are incapacitated, or are removed from office?
The Speaker of the House becomes President
Study Notes
Features of Government to Prevent Power Concentration
- Federal organization of government
- Separation of powers among different branches of government
- System of checks and balances to restrict the power of each branch
Federalism
- Federal government has power over areas of wide concern
- Exclusive powers of the federal government:
- Foreign policy
- Making treaties
- Declaring war
- Controlling imports and exports
- Printing money
- Delegated powers:
- Regulation of interstate and international trade
- Coinage and currency
- War
- Maintenance of armed forces
- Postal system
- Enforcement of copyrights
- Power to enter into treaties
- Reserved powers:
- Power to establish schools
- Establishment of local governments
- Police powers
- Concurrent powers:
- Power to tax
- Maintain courts
- Construct and maintain roads
Separation of Powers
- Division of legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate bodies
- Limits the possibility of arbitrary excesses by government
Legislative Branch
- Function: make laws
- Comprised of representatives elected to Congress
- Made up of two houses: House of Representatives and Senate
- Functions of the House:
- Revenue measures must originate in the House
- Initiate proceedings to impeach the president
- Choose the president if the Electoral College cannot produce a majority
- Become president if both the president and vice-president die or are removed
Senate
- Each state has two senators
- Senatorial term is six years
- Every two years, one-third of the Senate stands for election
Powers of the President
- Chief executive: appoints secretaries of major departments
- Departments:
- State: develops and implements foreign policy
- Treasury: promotes economic prosperity and ensures financial security
- Defense: provides military forces for national security
- Justice: enforces the law and defends the interests of the United States
- Interior: protects America's natural resources
- Agriculture: develops and executes policy on farming, agriculture, and food
Explore the features of the US government designed to prevent power concentration, including federal organization, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Learn about the principles of federalism and the powers of the federal government.
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