10.3 Practice Activity

Which two historic cabinet-level agencies is the Department of Defense a successor of?

• The Treasury Department and the Department of Commerce

• The War Department and the Navy Department

• The Department of State and the Department of the Interior

• The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor

What was the main purpose of creating the Department of Defense (DOD)?

• To establish a new currency system

• To unify the nation's armed forces

• To oversee national education

• To manage the country's natural resources

Approximately how many men and women are currently on active duty in the military?

• 800,000

• 1 million

• 1.4 million

• 2 million

What provisions were added to the Constitution to ensure the military was controlled by civilian authority?

• The President is the Commander and Chief.

• The Vice President is the head of military operations.

• The Secretary of State oversees military actions.

• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court commands the military.

What is a requirement for the Secretary of Defense regarding military service?

• Must be a current active duty military member.

• Can't serve in active duty in the previous 10 years before appointment.

• Must have at least 20 years of military service.

• No prior military service is required.

What is one of the major responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense?

• The chief justice of the Supreme Court

• The operating head of the Treasury Department

• The President's chief aide and advisor in making and carrying out defense policy

• The head of State Department

Where is the Department of Defense headquartered?

• The White House

• The Capitol Building

• The Supreme Court

• The Pentagon

Approximately what percentage of government spending is accounted for by the Department of Defense?

• 10%

• 20%

• 30%

• 40%

How many members serve as the principal military advisors to the Secretary of Defense, the President, and the National Security Council as part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?

• Four

• Five

• Six

• Seven

Who names the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?

• The Secretary of Defense

• The President

• The National Security Council

• The Senate