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Worksheets

The Three Branches

Total questions: 45

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is NOT part of the Preamble?

a)

to form a more perfect Union

b)

steps for amending the Constitution

c)

to promote the general welfare

d)

secure the blessing of liberty

2.

The first words of the Constitution tells us that power and authority of our system of government comes from the

a)

states

b)

people

c)

voters

d)

lawmakers

3.

Who is involved in amending the Constitution?

a)

the Congress and the states

b)

the president and the Congress

c)

the states and the Supreme Court

d)

the Supreme Court and the president

4.

Your uncle just celebrated his 30th birthday. Can he run for a seat in the House of Representatives?

a)

yes

b)

no

c)

only if he has first served in the state legislature

d)

only if he has graduated from law school

5.

A candidate you strongly support was just elected senator. How many years must pass until this candidate can be reelected?

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

no limit

6.

The media are reporting a raise in federal income tax for the coming year. Where did the proposal for this new tax originate?

a)

the president

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

the Senate

d)

the Supreme Court

7.

Troops from a foreign country have invaded Oregon. Which branch of government has the power to declare war against this aggressor?

a)

the executive branch

b)

the legislative branch

c)

the judicial branch

8.

The United States and another country recently agreed to a treaty on arms reductions. Who has the power to make such a treaty with a foreign country?

a)

the executive branch

b)

the legislative branch

c)

the judicial branch

9.

The president appointed a new ambassador to Haiti. Who must approve this appointment before it can take effect?

a)

Congress

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

the Senate

d)

the Supreme Court

10.

A Supreme Court justice has announced her retirement. Who has the power to nominate a replacement?

a)

the other Supreme Court members

b)

the Senate

c)

the House of Representatives

d)

the president

11.

The presidential candidate you favor has been called the "youngest person ever to run for president." How old must this candidate be to qualify for the presidency?

a)

25 years old

b)

30 years old

c)

35 years old

d)

40 years old

12.

You are disappointed the morning after Election Day to discover that the new president was not the candidate of your choice. In how many years can you vote again?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

10 years

13.

If a president were to commit a federal offense, who has the power to impeach him or her?

a)

the House of Representatives

b)

the Senate

c)

the Vice President

d)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

14.

If a president were to commit a federal offense, who has the power to try the impeached official?

a)

the House of Representatives

b)

the Senate

c)

the Vice President

d)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

15.

What is the vice president's only Constitutional responsibility?

a)

He is commander in chief of the armed forces.

b)

She writes all foreign treaties.

c)

He is responsible for all foreign policy.

d)

She is the president of the Senate.

16.

An argument has arisen between two states. Who has the power to settle this dispute?

a)

the president

b)

the courts of each state

c)

the governor of the state with the complaint

d)

the Supreme Court

17.

After law school, your hope is to someday serve on the Supreme Court. How long would your term of office be?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

for life

18.

Who is the commander in chief of the U. S. military forces?

a)

the vice president

b)

the president

c)

the speaker of the house

d)

the chief justice of the Supreme Court

19.

There has been talk of a new amendment allowing foreign-born citizens to run for president. Who would have the power to propose this amendment?

a)

the states

b)

the president

c)

Congress

d)

the Supreme Court

20.

Who has the power to approve or veto legislation?

a)

Congress

b)

the states

c)

the president

d)

the Supreme Court

21.

Members of the House of Representatives serve a _____ year term.

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

no limit

22.

To represent your state in the House, how long must you have lived in your state?

a)

3 years

b)

5 year

c)

7 years

d)

9 years

23.

There is a need to find money to build new ships for our navy. Who has the power to do this?

a)

the Senate

b)

the president

c)

Congress

d)

the House of Representatives

24.

How many years in a senator's term of office?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

no limit

25.

A senator must have lived in the state they will represent for how many years?

a)

7 years

b)

9 years

c)

12 years

d)

all their life

26.

Who must approve presidential appointments?

a)

the Senate

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

Congress

d)

the vice president

27.

Who has the power to ratify treaties with foreign governments?

a)

Congress

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

the Senate

d)

the vice president

28.

A federal judge has been accused of accepting bribes to rule on a certain case. Who will try this impeached judge?

a)

Congress

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

d)

the Senate

29.

Who can propose a new law about creating a new branch of our military?

a)

Congress

b)

the president

c)

the vice president

d)

the judicial branch

30.

The United States is attacked by a foreign military power. Who has the power to declare war against this offending nation?

a)

the president

b)

the executive branch

c)

the judicial branch

d)

Congress

31.

Who has the power to override a presidential veto?

a)

the president

b)

Congress

c)

any Supreme Court justice

d)

the vice president

32.

Congress can propose an amendment to the Constitution but it requires

a)

2/3 of the states to approve it.

b)

the president's approval before the process can begin.

c)

the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the amendment.

d)

1/2 of the states to ratify the amendment.

33.

How long does a president serve in office?

a)

2 terms

b)

4 years

c)

8 years

d)

life

34.

Which of the following is NOT a requirement to be president?

a)

be at least 35 years old

b)

graduated from college

c)

have lived in the U. S. for the previous 14 years

d)

be a natural born citizen

35.

The United States would like to make a treaty with Canada to improve trade. Who has the power to write this treaty?

a)

Congress

b)

the Senate

c)

the president

d)

the Supreme Court

36.

Congress has approved a bill to require schools be in session 50 weeks each year. What can the president do to stop this bill?

a)

She can send Congress home to prevent the final vote.

b)

He can send the bill to the Supreme Court and have them veto it.

c)

He can veto the bill and send it to the house where it began.

d)

She has to sign the bill; there's nothing she can do to stop it.

37.

A Supreme Court justice has announced she will retire at the end of the court's term in May. Who will have the power to nominate her replacement?

a)

a state governor

b)

a senator from the justice's home state

c)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

d)

the president

38.

Our new president needs help to run our country. Who has the power to appoint cabinet members to help her?

a)

the president

b)

the vice president

c)

Congress

d)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

39.

When we see the president step off Air Force One, someone in military uniform standing on the ground salutes the president. Why?

a)

The president is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

b)

The president holds the rank of 5-star general.

c)

The president is known as the joint-chiefs of staff.

d)

The president plans military strategy.

40.

The U. S Constitution gives only one job to the vice president. What is it?

a)

veto laws passed by Congress

b)

try cases of impeachment of the president

c)

select new members of the Supreme Court

d)

to serve as the president of the Senate

41.

Justice Robbins of the Supreme Court is 60 years old. How much longer can she serve on the Court?

a)

She has to retire when she has her 85th birthday.

b)

She is supposed to retire when she turns 65.

c)

Judges are allowed to serve as long as they live.

d)

Judges serve a 10 year term.

42.

Congress passes a new law to take away a woman's right to vote. What can be done about this awful new law?

a)

Nothing can be done. Congress has the power to make laws.

b)

States can pass their own laws giving women the right to vote.

c)

The U. S. Supreme Court can rule the law unconstitutional.

d)

Congress doesn't have the power to make such a law.

43.

A man sues the United States because he wants his picture on a $25 bill. Who will listen to and decide this case?

a)

the court in the city where he lives

b)

the state supreme court in his home state

c)

the Supreme Court

d)

Judge Judy

44.

Alabama, Georgia, and Florida sue each other over their right to take water from the Chattahoochee River. Where would this case be heard?

a)

one of the state courts

b)

whichever state gets to court first

c)

the Supreme Court

d)

Washington, D.C. court

45.

The president has been impeached. Who will preside over the impeachment case of the president?

a)

the Vice President

b)

the President of the Senate

c)

the Speaker of the House

d)

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court