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Topic 6: 3 Branches of Government

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The part of the Constitution that describes the legislative branch is _________________-

a)

Preamble

b)

Article I

c)

Article II

d)

Amendments

2.
The main job of the legislative branch
a)
determine if laws are unconstitutional
b)
veto laws
c)
make laws
d)
approve laws made by the President
3.

What are the 2 requirements to get elected to the Senate?

a)

25 years old & citizen for 7 years

b)

25 years old & citizen for 9 years

c)

30 years old & citizen for 7 years

d)

30 years old & citizen for 9 years

4.
Which of these are powers of Congress
a)
Raise & spend revenue,borrow money,print money,regulate trade,punish counterfeiting,decide rules for bankruptcy
b)
Declare war,create armed forces, rules for armed forces, protect from pirates
c)
Create post office, create Federal courts, create National capital, create copyrights/patents
d)
all of the above
5.
This house of Congress has 100 members and includes only 2 from each state
a)
House of Representatives
b)
Senate
c)
President
d)
Supreme Court
6.
After both houses of Congress pass a bill, it ___________
a)
is a law
b)
is sent to the President for his/her approval and signature
c)
is sent to the Supreme Court to determine if it is unconstituttional
d)
is approved by the American people
7.

After a Bill is introduced on the floor of the House or Senate, a bill then moves to

a)

the appropriate standing committee

b)

floor debate

c)

the president's desk

d)

a roll-call vote

8.

a filibuster can be ended by

a)

floor debate

b)

a roll-call debate

c)

60 Senators voting for cloture

d)

2/3rds vote of the members

9.

What type of bill must originate in the House of Representatives?

a)

Revenue (tax) bill

b)

Education bill

c)

Transportation bill

d)

Housing bill

10.

What power allows a senator to speak for as long as they want to avoid voting for a bill?

a)

filibuster

b)

committee

c)

veto

d)

override

11.

The people represented by members of a law-making body are called...

a)

Constituents

b)

Filibuster

c)

Congress

d)

Committees

12.

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group is called

a)

gerrymandering

b)

reapportion

c)

filibuster

d)

conference committee

13.
How long can a senator serve? A representative?
a)
6 years; 2 years
b)
4 years each
c)
6 years; 4 years
d)
2 years; 6 years
14.
Why must the Senate approve the President's Supreme Court Justice nominations?
a)
It allows part of the Legislative branch to check the power of the Executive branch
b)
So the Senate can filibuster the President's nomination
c)
It is required that all Executive decisions go through the Senate
d)
The Senate wants to feel involved in the government
15.
Powers listed  in the U.S. Constitution are known as
a)
expressed powers
b)
reserved powers
c)
implied powers
d)
shared powers
16.

Powers used to carry out expressed powers that are NOT listed in the U.S. Constitution are known as ("necessary and proper" clause)

a)

reserved powers

b)

shared powers

c)

implied powers

d)

expressed powers

17.
Which of the following is the correct order of the lawmaking process?
a)
Send to president sign, working in  committees, debate and vote in both houses
b)
Introduce in either house, working in committees, debating and voting  in both houses, send to the president to sign
c)
Working in committees, introduce in either house, debate and vote in both houses, sent to president to sign
d)
Introduce in either houses, debating and voting in both houses, working in committees, send to the president to sign
18.
After a bill has made it through both houses, it is likely that two versions of the same bill exist. Where are these differences resolved/reconciled?
a)
standing committee
b)
select committee
c)
conference committee
d)
subcommittee
19.

The Necessary and Proper Clause of the U.S. Constitution is shown: ​The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Why did Federalists want to include this clause in the Constitution?

a)

to protect the individual liberties of all citizens


b)

to provide a guarantee of sovereignty to individual states

c)

to allow the national government to efficiently run the country

d)

to give citizens more opportunities to select government officials

20.

Why are senators' terms staggered?

a)

to control the size of the upper house

b)

to ease the burden on state election systems

c)

to prevent the Senate from gaining too much power

d)

to shield the Senate from sudden shifts in public opinion

21.

What is casework?

a)

A committee's research on a bill

b)

The process for drawing new district lines

c)

The stuff legislators keep in their briefcases

d)

Representatives helping constituents with issues

22.

Which of the following best describes federalism?

a)

The ability of state and local governments to override the federal government

b)

The existence of a federal government

c)

The division of political power between the state and federal governments

d)

The ability of federal government to override state and local governments

23.
What branch is having its power checked when...
Congress overrides a President's veto?
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
none
24.
What branch is having its power checked when...
Congress creates lower federal courts?
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
none
25.
What branch is having its power checked when...
Congress refuses to approve presidential appointments?
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
none
26.
What branch is having its power checked when...
the Supreme Court declares an presidential act unconstitutional?
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
none
27.

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a federal law is unconstitutional because it violates Americans’ first amendment rights.

This is an example of the __________branch checking the_________ branch.

a)

Legislative-Judicial

b)

Judicial-Legislative

28.

Congress impeaches the President for speeding through the streets of Washington in his limo at 100 miles an hour just for fun. The reckless driving kills several citizens.

This is an example of the ________ branch checking the _______branch.

a)

Judicial-Executive

b)

Legislative-Executive

29.

The passage below is from a speech by President George W. Bush, March 19, 2003.


On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.

Source: Office of the White House Press Secretary Archives

What constitutional power justifies the actions described in the passage?

a)

chief regulator

b)

chief legislator

c)

commander-in-chief

d)

negotiator-in-chief

30.

Which branch confirms or oks an appointment of a judge?

a)

Executive (President)

b)

Legislative (Congress)

c)

Judicial (Supreme) Court

31.

What is the main function of the Executive Branch?

a)

to make the laws

b)

to interpret the laws

c)

to carry out the laws

d)

to declare war

32.

Who is the Executive Branch made of?

a)

The House and Senate

b)

The President and Supreme Court

c)

The Senate and President

d)

The President and Cabinet

33.

What is the main function of the Judicial Branch?

a)

to carry out laws

b)

to make laws

c)

to interpret laws

d)

to declare war

34.

This branch can appoint judges

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

35.

The powers given and requirements for the Executive can be found in

a)

The Articles of Confederation

b)

Constitution, Article II

c)

Constitution, Articles VII

d)

Aren't write, all derived from tradition

36.

The structure and requirements for the Judicial branch can be found in

a)

Constitution, Article III

b)

Constiuttion, Preamble

c)

Maryland Toleration Act

d)

Marbury v Madison

37.

Who is DOING THE CHECKING:


President Carter pardoned all Americans who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War.

a)

Legislative checking Executive

b)

Legislative checking Judicial

c)

Executive checking Legislative

d)

Executive checking Judicial

e)

Judicial checking Executive

38.

Who is DOING THE CHECKING:


Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman, to the US Supreme Court.

a)

Legislative checking Executive

b)

Legislative checking Judicial

c)

Executive checking Legislative

d)

Executive checking Judicial

e)

Judicial checking Legislative

39.

Who is DOING THE CHECKING:


President Obama vetoed the Keystone Pipeline Approval Act.

a)

Legislative checking Executive

b)

Legislative checking Judicial

c)

Executive checking Legislative

d)

Executive checking Judicial

e)

Judicial checking Legislative

40.

Legislation is often influenced by: (check ALL that apply)

a)

The Executive Branch

b)

Constituents

c)

Interest Groups and Lobbyists

d)

The Judicial Branch

41.
An official act by the President forgiving a person convicted of a crime and freeing that person from serving his/her sentence.
a)
Excuse
b)
Commutation
c)
Pardon
d)
Termination
42.
The purpose of the President's cabinet is to 
a)
advise and help the President
b)
advise Congress
c)
Help make laws
d)
decide if laws make sense
43.
To be President you must be at least ____ years old
a)
25
b)
30
c)
35
d)
40
44.
Which body has to approve all Presidential appointments and treaties?  
a)
Congress
b)
Senate
c)
House
d)
Supreme Court
45.

A rule or regulation issued by the President that has the force of law without the approval of Congress.

a)

executive order

b)

executive agreement

c)

cloture rule

d)

filibuster

46.
The Electoral College
a)
functions largely independently of the major political parties
b)
provide for a winner-take-all system of election in all 50 states
c)
requires that the candidate who receives a plurality of the votes (the most) will be elected to the office of president
d)
requires that a candidate receive a majority (270 electoral votes) to be elected president.
47.
What power was given to the Supreme Court in the court case Marbury v. Madison?
a)
Judicial Review
b)
Make Laws
c)
Supremacy Clause
d)
Execute Laws
48.

What power does judicial review give the Supreme Court?

a)

They can declare laws passed by Congress or actions of the president unconstitutional.

b)

The power to review the Constitution and make laws.

c)

The power to review the Constitution and veto laws.

d)

They can impeach a president or member of Congress for doing something unconstitutional.

49.

an earlier case that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent cases.

a)

Precedent

b)

Original Jurisdiction

c)

Writ of Certiorari

50.

How long may Supreme Court Justices serve?

a)

for terms varying from four to eight years.

b)

for 15-year terms.

c)

for 12-year terms.

d)

for life unless impeached, retire or die.

51.

U.S. District Courts have the right to hear cases involving federal crimes first. What type of jurisdiction do they have?

a)

original

b)

appellate

c)

concurrent

d)

implied

52.

The 10th Amendment ensures that

a)

Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.

b)

no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

c)

powers not delegated to the United States in the

Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people.

d)

the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

53.

These powers are not given to the Federal government, so they belong to the States.

a)

implied powers

b)

enumerated powers

c)

reserved powers

d)

concurrent powers

54.

The power to tax is a(n)

a)

implied power

b)

concurrent power

c)

reserved power

d)

enumerated power

55.

Powers that the federal government shares with state governments are called

a)

reserved

b)

implied

c)

concurrent

d)

enumerated

56.

conduct elections

a)

enumerated (federal only)

b)

concurrent (shared)

c)

reserved (state only)

57.

Who has the power to make & enforce laws?

a)

the Federal Government

b)

the State Governments

c)

both the Federal & State Government

58.

Who has the power to issue drivers & marriage licenses?

a)

the Federal Government

b)

the State Governments

c)

both the Federal & State Government

59.

"Laboratories of democracy" is another name for the states. This is because:

a)

state governments use their powers to experiment with new policies.

b)

state governments are completely independent from the federal government

c)

of Article VI of the Constitution

60.

The trio of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall that some states have incorporated in their Constitutions are examples of?

a)

federal power

b)

direct democracy

c)

parliamentary democracy

d)

tyranny