13.  Name one branch or part of the government.* 

    ▪  Congress  ▪  legislative  ▪  President  ▪  executive  ▪  the courts  ▪  judicial

14.  What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? 

    ▪  checks and balances  ▪  separation of powers

15.  Who is in charge of the executive branch? 

    ▪  the President

16.  Who makes federal laws? 

    ▪  Congress  ▪  Senate and House (of Representatives)  ▪  (U.S. or national) legislature

17.   What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* 

    ▪  the Senate and House (of Representatives)

18.  How many U.S. Senators are there? 

    ▪  one hundred (100)

19.  We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?  

    ▪  six (6)

20.  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.]

21.  The House of Representatives has how many voting members?  

    ▪  four hundred thirty-five (435) 22.  We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?  ▪  two (2)

23.  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.]

24.  Who does a U.S. Senator represent? 

    ▪  all people of the state

25.  Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? 

    ▪  (because of) the state’s population  ▪  (because) they have more people  ▪  (because) some states have more people

26.  We elect a President for how many years? 

    ▪  four (4)

27.  In what month do we vote for President?* 

    ▪  November

28.  What is the name of the President of the United States now?* 

    ▪  Barack Obama  ▪  Obama

29.  What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? 

    ▪  Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  ▪  Joe Biden  ▪  Biden

30.  If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? 

    ▪  the Vice President

31.  If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? 

    ▪  the Speaker of the House

32.  Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? 

    ▪  the President

33.  Who signs bills to become laws? 

    ▪  the President

34.  Who vetoes bills? 

    ▪  the President

35.  What does the President’s Cabinet do? 

    ▪  advises the President

36.  What are two Cabinet-level positions? 

    ▪  Secretary of Agriculture  ▪  Secretary of Commerce  ▪  Secretary of Defense  ▪  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  ▪  Attorney General  ▪  Vice President

37.  What does the judicial branch do? 

    ▪  reviews laws  ▪  explains laws  ▪  resolves disputes (disagreements)  ▪  decides if a law goes against the Constitution

38.  What is the highest court in the United States? 

    ▪  the Supreme Court

39.  How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 

    ▪  nine (9)

40.  Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? 

    ▪  John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

41.   Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government.  What is one power of the federal government? 

    ▪  to print money  ▪  to declare war  ▪  to create an army  ▪  to make treaties

 42.   Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states.  What is one power of the states?  

    ▪  provide schooling and education  ▪  provide protection (police)  ▪  provide safety (fire departments)  ▪  give a driver’s license  ▪  approve zoning and land use

43.  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.]

44.  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.]

 45.  What are the two major political parties in the United States?* 

    ▪  Democratic and Republican

46.  What is the political party of the President now? 

    ▪  Democratic (Party)

47.  What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? 

    ▪  (John) Boehner