- Name the three branches of government.
- Legislative, executive, and judicial
Congress, president, and the courts
- The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
- Executive branch
- What part of the federal government writes laws?
- (U.S.) Congress
(U.S. or national) legislature
Legislative branch
- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- Senate and House (of Representatives)
- Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
- Writes laws
Declares war
Makes the federal budget
- How many U.S. senators are there?
- One hundred (100)
- How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
- Six (6) years
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. senators.]
- How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
- Four hundred thirty-five (435)
- How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
- Two (2) years
- Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
- To more closely follow public opinion
- How many senators does each state have?
- Two (2)
- Why does each state have two senators?
- Equal representation (for small states)
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
- Name your U.S. representative.
- Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) representatives in Congress.]
- What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- Mike Johnson
Johnson
James Michael Johnson (birth name)
- Who does a U.S. senator represent?
- Citizens of their state
People of their state
- Who elects U.S. senators?
- Citizens from their state
- Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
- Citizens in their (congressional) district
Citizens in their district
People from their (congressional) district
People in their district
- Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
- Citizens from their (congressional) district
- Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
- (Because of) the state’s population
(Because) they have more people
(Because) some states have more people
- The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
- Four (4) years
- The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
- (Because of) the 22nd Amendment
To keep the president from becoming too powerful
- What is the name of the President of the United States now?
- Donald J. Trump
Donald Trump
Trump
- What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
- JD Vance
Vance
- If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
- The Vice President (of the United States)
- Name one power of the president.
- Signs bills into law
Vetoes bills
Enforces laws
Commander in Chief (of the military)
Chief diplomat
Appoints federal judges
- Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
- The President (of the United States)
- Who signs bills to become laws?
- The President (of the United States)
- Who vetoes bills?
- The President (of the United States)
- Who appoints federal judges?
- The President (of the United States)
- The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
- President (of the United States)
Cabinet
Federal departments and agencies
- What does the President’s Cabinet do?
- Advises the President (of the United States)
- What are two Cabinet-level positions?
- Attorney General
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
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
Secretary of War (Defense)
Vice-President
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of National Intelligence
United States Trade Representative
- Why is the Electoral College important?
- It decides who is elected president.
It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
- What is one part of the judicial branch?
- Supreme Court
Federal Courts
- What does the judicial branch do?
- Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
- What is the highest court in the United States?
- Supreme Court
- How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
- Nine (9)
- How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
- Five (5)
- How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
- (For) life
Lifetime appointment
(Until) retirement
- Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
- To be independent (of politics)
To limit outside (political) influence
- Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
- John Roberts
John G. Roberts, Jr.
Roberts
- Name one power that is only for the federal government.
- Print paper money
Mint coins
Declare war
Create an army
Make treaties
Set foreign policy
- Name one power that is only for the states.
- Provide schooling and education
Provide protection (police)
Provide safety (fire departments)
Give a driver’s license
Approve zoning and land use
- What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
- (It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
- Who is the governor of your state now?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]
- What is the capital of your state?
- Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]