Our Government - The Basics

Who is/are the leaders of the federal executive branch?

• President

• U.S. Congress

• U.S. Supreme Court

Answer explanation

The President leads the executive branch. An easy way to remember who the executive leader is, is that it is always a single individual who leads. The other two branches are led by groups.

Which of the following are parts of the federal executive branch? Choose all that apply.

• Vice President

• Speaker of the House

• Cabinet

• Chief Justice

Answer explanation

The President is assisted by his chosen Vice President and a group of appointed officials who head departments such as Defense, Commerce, and Education, called the Cabinet.

Who is/are the leaders of the federal legislative branch of government?

• President

• U.S. Congress

• U.S. Supreme Court

Answer explanation

The U.S. Congress heads the legislative branch. The legislative branch was the most important to the Founding Fathers because it was tasked with making our laws. It is the only branch to be made up entirely of elected officials who represent every part of the country.

What are the two houses of the U.S. Congress? Choose both.

• House of Representatives

• House of Burgesses

• House of Lords

• Senate

• Chamber of Commons

Answer explanation

The U.S. Congress has two houses. The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The number of members a state has in the House is based on population. There are 435 members. The number of members a state receives in the Senate is two. Therefore there are 100 senators.

Who is/are the leaders of the federal judicial branch of government?

• President

• U.S. Congress

• U.S. Supreme Court

Answer explanation

The judicial branch is led by the U.S. Supreme Court, but it includes all the other federal courts as well. The judicial branch is made up of only appointed officials. For this reason the Founding Fathers limited their powers to the interpretation of the meaning of laws. They are to be above the influence of popular views and to make decisions based on precedent and the Constitution.

The powers of the federal executive branch include... Choose all that apply.

• Appoint ambassadors, officials, and federal judges.

• Interpret the meaning of laws of the United States.

• Prepare the annual budget for Congressional approval.

• Impeach members of the U.S. Senate who disagree with his policy.

• Enforce or carry out the laws of the United States.

Answer explanation

The executive branch has many powers.

· Executes the laws of the land

· Prepares the annual budget for congressional action

· Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges

· Oversees executive agencies and departments 

Which of the following powers belong to the federal legislative branch...Choose all that apply.

• Make the laws for the United States.

• Approve executive appointments and the annual budget.

• Raise and levy taxes.

• Declare acts of the President to be unconstitutional.

• Appointment members of the U.S. Senate.

Answer explanation

The federal legislative branch has many powers.

· Makes the laws of the nation

· Approves the annual budget

· Confirms presidential appointments

· Raises revenue through taxes and other levies

· Regulates interstate and foreign trade

· Declares war

The powers of the federal judicial branch include... Choose all that apply.

• Interpret the meaning of federal laws and the U.S. Constitution.

• Approve the appointments of cabinet officers.

• Declare federal laws to be unconstitutional using the power of judicial review.

• Make laws for the United States.

• Declare an act of the executive branch to be unconstitutional using the power of judicial review.

Answer explanation

The federal judicial branch maintains many powers.

· The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review

* The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States

The system of limitations each branch of government has over the others so that no branch has unlimited power is known as what?

• Federalism

• Checks and Balances

• Judicial Review

• Due Process

Answer explanation

The Founding Fathers wanted to make sure that the government never again acted without check in the same way the King had. For that reason for every power one branch has another branch has a way to check or limit that power.

What are some of the ways in which the President (executive) branch may check the power of the Congress (legislative) branch? Choose all that apply.

• Impeach members of the U.S. Congress that disagree with his ideals.

• Propose legislation that he would like to see Congress introduce.

• Call Congress into a special session to discuss legislation.

• Veto a bill that has passed both houses of Congress.

• Appoint a member to the House who supports his ideas.

Answer explanation

The President has many ways to limit the powers of Congress.

o proposes legislation

o prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve

o call special sessions of Congress

o vetoes legislation Congress has passed.