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WorksheetsOverview of the Federal Government
Total questions: 43
Worksheet time: 22mins
The executive branch:
enforces laws
creates laws
interprets laws
There are (a) amendments to the US Constitution.
The head of the executive branch is:
Congress
The Supreme Court
Secretary of State
The President
A change to the Constitution is called a(n):
veto
referendum
amendment
regulation
Dividing the power and responsibilities among the 3 branches of government is called:
(a)
The ability of the branches to limit the power of the other branches is called:
separation of powers
checks and balances
judicial review
constitutional control
The legislative branch is in charge of:
enforcing laws
interpreting laws
making laws
breaking laws
Another name for the legislative branch is:
the Senate
the House
the Supreme Court
Congress
The government that oversees the entire country is called the (a) government.
How many branches of government are there?
one
two
three
four
What are the names of the branches of government?
Judicial
Supreme Court
President
Executive
Legislative
What or who is the head of the Judicial Branch?
the President
Congress
Supreme Court
House of Representatives
Name the three branches of government in alphabetical order. Hint: E J L
(a)
Which branch interprets the laws (looks at the meaning of laws and makes sure laws follow the Constitution?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
The federal courts and district courts are in which branch?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
The Cabinet is part of which branch?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
The Senate is part of which branch?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
The House of Representatives is part of which branch?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
The statement below is from a historical document.
We the People of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
How is this statement reflected in the modern American political system?
Voters elect Congress members.
The Electoral College elects Congress.
Congress enforces policies.
The president enacts policies.
What does the phrase "insure domestic tranquility" in the Preamble of the Constitution mean?
Give land to the homeless
Fight wars on foreign soil
Keep the homeland at peace
Provide citizens with insurance
What check does only the U.S. Senate have on the president?
veto a bill
appointing judges
declaring laws unconstitutional
refusing to confirm appointments
Peter Brown has lived in his home since he was a child. Now the department of parks and
recreation wants to tear down his neighborhood to build a park. A government official comes to
visit Peter and offers to buy the house from him. Peter refuses. The official says that the
government will now seize the property under the constitutional power of "eminent domain."
According to the U.S. Constitution, under what circumstances would Peter win his fight to keep
his home?
If Peter could prove that he had paid the full price of the house already
If Peter was born as a citizen of the United States, not a naturalized citizen or resident
If the government did not make a reasonable effort to build the park in an uninhabited area
If the government did not offer him fair market price for his home
The image above symbolizes a right protected by the Bill of Rights.
What constitutional right does this image symbolize?
speedy trial
trial by peers
legal representation
peaceable assembly
Which constitutional principle is applied when police inform suspects of their rights?
due process of law
eminent domain
double jeopardy
trial by jury
Why does the U.S. Supreme Court continue to debate the constitutionality of the death penalty?
Citizens are protected from unreasonable search and seizure.
Citizens are protected from cruel and unusual punishment.
Citizens are protected against double jeopardy.
Citizens are protected against unfair trials.
Which part of the U.S. Constitution outlines legislative power?
First Amendment
Bill of Rights
Preamble
Article I
How are the responsibilities of the legislative and executive branches of government different when it comes to treaties?
U.S. Senate proposes treaties; the president carries out foreign treaties.
U.S. Senate negotiates foreign treaties; the president approves treaties.
The president ratifies treaties; U.S. Senate approves foreign treaties.
The president negotiates foreign treaties; U.S. Senate ratifies treaties.
The newspaper headline below describes an event in U.S. history.
Which parts of the national government participated in the process described in the newspaper headline?
Senate and President
Supreme Court and President
House of Representatives and Senate
Supreme Court and House of Representatives
Which statement describes a similarity between the state and the federal governments under the U.S. Constitution?
Both levels of government allow for the election of judges.
Both levels of government have the power to ratify treaties.
Both levels of government allow for the collection of taxes.
Both levels of government have the power to appoint ambassadors.
Which is the last step in amending the U.S. Constitution?
The voters approve the amendment in a national election.
The president signs the amendment in a public ceremony.
Three-fourths of the state legislatures ratify the amendment.
Two-thirds of both houses of Congress propose the amendment.
Why is a formal amendment process important?
To prevent the Supreme Court from being eliminated
To keep some states from being too powerful
To allow the Constitution to be adjusted as times change
To give the president a role in changing the government
Protesting through marches and sit-ins, Civil Rights protesters practiced ______________________.
summary judgment
quartering soldiers
civil disobedience
double jeopardy
What check by the House of Representatives formally accuses a Supreme Court justice of “wrongdoing”?
filibuster
impeach
override
pardon
Ben was prosecuted and convicted in state court for speaking out publicly against the
governor. During his trial, he was denied a lawyer. Two years later, the U.S.
Supreme Court overturned his conviction, explaining that the state had not guaranteed Ben’s
constitutional rights. Which amendments apply to this case?
Amendment I (free speech) and Amendment VI (legal counsel)
Amendment I (free press) and Amendment IV (search and seizure)
Amendment IX (unenumerated rights) and Amendment VI (legal counsel)
Amendment IX (unenumerated rights) and Amendment IV (search and seizure)
Which type of law makes an act a crime after it has been committed?
summary judgment
double jeopardy
habeas corpus
ex post facto
What is the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion that words creating a
“clear and present danger” are not protected by the First Amendment?
The Constitution limits individual rights.
The Constitution safeguards individual rights.
The Constitution does not limit states' rights.
The Constitution does not safeguard states' rights.
Which constitutional provision forbids conflict between state and federal laws?
supremacy clause
habeas corpus
elastic clause
ex post facto
These boxes describe two events relating to the U.S. government.
What constitutional principles are demonstrated in examples A and B?
Example A: checks and balances; Example B: separation of powers
Example A: checks and balances; Example B: judicial review
Example A: separation of powers; Example B: individual rights
Example A: separation of powers; Example B: checks and balances
The illustration below shows a legal document regarding jury service.
Why are citizens obligated to respond to such documents?
to guarantee court hearings remain public
to guarantee courts provide probable cause
to protect the constitutional right to be tried by one’s peers
to protect the constitutional right to confront one’s accuser
The statement above was expressed by colonists in the 1750s and 1760s.
How does the modern political system in the United States uphold the principles expressed in the statement?
by requiring federal tax bills to be proposed by the president
by requiring federal tax bills to be introduced in the Senate
by requiring federal tax bills to be introduced in the House of Representatives
by requiring federal tax bills to be proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury
Above is a statement from Chief Justice John Roberts.
Why is this statement significant?
The Constitution limits individual rights.
The Constitution safeguards individual rights.
The Constitution does not limit states' rights.
The Constitution does not safeguard states' rights.
The diagram below shows some of the steps involved in creating a federal law.
What is the next step in the lawmaking process?
The people vote on the bill in an election.
The president signs the bill into law.
The bill goes to the Senate for action.
The bill goes to the Supreme Court for a hearing.
The passage is from a speech by President George W. Bush, March 19, 2003.
What constitutional power justifies the actions described in the passage?
commander-in-chief
negotiator-in-chief
chief legislator
chief regulator
