Questions and Answers
How many members are there in the U.S. Senate?
Which month do we vote for President?
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Who becomes President if both the President and Vice President can no longer serve?
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What are the TWO major political parties in the United States?
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How many years do we elect a U.S. Senator for?
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Under our constitution, some power belongs to the federal government. What is ONE power of the federal government?
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Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
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How long do we elect a U.S. Representative for?
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How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
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Who is responsible for making federal laws?
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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Name ONE branch or part of the government?
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Who signs bills to become laws?
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What is the highest court in the United States?
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Why do some states have more voting representatives than others?
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is ONE power of the states?
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Who is responsible for vetoing bills?
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What does the judicial branch do?
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What are TWO Cabinet-level positions?
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Who is considered the Commander in Chief of the military?
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How long is the term for which a President is elected?
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
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What are the TWO parts of the U.S. Congress?
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Study Notes
Government Structure
- The government consists of three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
- Congress is the legislative branch responsible for making federal laws and is divided into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Legislative Branch
- There are 100 U.S. Senators, elected for six-year terms.
- The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each elected for two-year terms.
- Each U.S. Senator represents all people within their respective state.
- States with larger populations have more Representatives in the House.
Executive Branch
- The President is the head of the executive branch and serves a four-year term.
- If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, the Speaker of the House assumes the presidency.
- The President acts as Commander-in-Chief of the military and has the authority to sign or veto bills.
Federal Powers and Responsibilities
- The federal government has exclusive powers such as printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and entering treaties.
- The President’s Cabinet advises the President on various matters and consists of Cabinet-level positions like Secretary of State and Attorney General.
State Powers
- States retain powers such as providing education, ensuring public safety through police and fire services, issuing driver's licenses, and managing zoning and land use.
Political Landscape
- The two major political parties in the U.S. are Democratic and Republican.
Judicial Branch
- The judicial branch interprets laws, reviews their constitutionality, and resolves legal disputes.
- The highest court in the United States is the Supreme Court.
Checks and Balances
- The system of checks and balances prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, ensuring separation of powers among the branches.
Structure of U.S. Government
- Government is divided into three branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Courts).
- Checks and balances ensure that no single branch becomes too powerful.
Legislative Branch
- Congress comprises two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- The U.S. Senate has 100 members, with each Senator serving a term of six years.
- The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, with each Representative serving a term of two years.
- Representation in the House is based on state population.
Executive Branch
- The President leads the executive branch and serves a four-year term.
- If the President and Vice President are unable to serve, the Speaker of the House assumes the presidency.
- The President is the Commander in Chief of the military and has the power to sign and veto bills.
- The President's Cabinet consists of advisors and includes positions such as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.
Federal and State Powers
- Federal powers include printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties.
- States have powers such as providing education, protection, safety services, issuing driver’s licenses, and approving land use.
Major Political Parties
- The two primary political parties in the U.S. are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Judicial Branch
- The judicial branch interprets laws, resolves disputes, and ensures laws comply with the Constitution.
- The highest judicial authority in the U.S. is the Supreme Court.
U.S. Government Structure
- Government has three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
- Congress is divided into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Executive Branch
- Led by the President, who serves a four-year term.
- If both President and Vice President can no longer serve, the Speaker of the House assumes presidency.
- President acts as Commander in Chief of the military and has the power to sign and veto bills.
- The President's Cabinet advises the President and comprises various department secretaries.
Legislative Branch
- Congress consists of 100 U.S. Senators and 435 voting members in the House of Representatives.
- Senators serve six-year terms; Representatives serve two-year terms.
- States with larger populations have more Representatives in the House.
Judicial Branch
- Responsible for reviewing laws, interpreting them, resolving legal disputes, and ensuring compliance with the Constitution.
- The highest court in the U.S. is the Supreme Court.
Powers and Responsibilities
- Federal government powers include printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties.
- State powers include providing education, police protection, fire safety, issuing driver's licenses, and regulating land use.
Political Parties
- The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Election Process
- Presidential elections occur in November.
- The U.S. government relies on checks and balances and the separation of powers to prevent any branch from gaining excessive power.
Executive Branch
- The President leads the executive branch of the U.S. government.
- The President serves a term of four years and can be re-elected.
U.S. Congress
- Congress consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Military Leadership
- The President serves as the Commander in Chief of the military, holding the highest authority in military operations.
Legislative Power
- The President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress, preventing them from becoming law.
President's Cabinet
- The Cabinet consists of key advisors to the President, responsible for overseeing various departments and providing policy guidance.
- Significant Cabinet-level positions include:
- Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Attorney General
Judicial Branch
- The judicial branch interprets and reviews laws, resolves legal disputes, and ensures laws comply with the Constitution.
Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, with ultimate authority in legal matters and constitutional interpretation.
Government Structure
- Three branches of government: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), Judicial (Courts).
- Checks and balances prevent any branch from becoming too powerful by requiring cooperation and oversight.
Executive Branch
- The President is the head of the executive branch and Commander in Chief of the military.
- The President signs bills into law and has the power to veto legislation.
- The President's Cabinet advises the President and consists of various Cabinet-level positions like Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.
Legislative Branch
- Federal laws are made by Congress, which is divided into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- Congress comprises 100 U.S. Senators, each serving a six-year term.
- The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, with each member serving a two-year term.
- Representation in the House is based on state population.
Election Process
- Presidential elections occur in November, with the President serving a four-year term.
- If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, the Speaker of the House assumes the presidency.
- A U.S. Senator represents all residents of their state.
Powers of Government
- Federal government powers include printing money, declaring war, creating an army, and making treaties.
- State powers include providing education, safety services (like police and fire departments), issuing driver's licenses, and regulating land use.
Political Parties
- The two major political parties in the U.S. are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Judicial Branch
- The judicial branch interprets and reviews laws, resolves disputes, and ensures laws comply with the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and has the final say on legal interpretations.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the fundamental structure of the U.S. government with this quiz. Questions cover branches, roles, and the legislative process. Perfect for students learning about civics or government.
