wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Our Government - The Basics

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 6hrs 46mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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

a)

President

b)

U.S. Congress

c)

U.S. Supreme Court

2.

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

a)

Vice President

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

Cabinet

d)

Chief Justice

3.

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

a)

President

b)

U.S. Congress

c)

U.S. Supreme Court

4.

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

a)

House of Representatives

b)

House of Burgesses

c)

House of Lords

d)

Senate

e)

Chamber of Commons

5.

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

a)

President

b)

U.S. Congress

c)

U.S. Supreme Court

6.

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

a)

Appoint ambassadors, officials, and federal judges.

b)

Interpret the meaning of laws of the United States.

c)

Prepare the annual budget for Congressional approval.

d)

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

e)

Enforce or carry out the laws of the United States.

7.

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

a)

Make the laws for the United States.

b)

Approve executive appointments and the annual budget.

c)

Raise and levy taxes.

d)

Declare acts of the President to be unconstitutional.

e)

Appointment members of the U.S. Senate.

8.

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

a)

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

b)

Approve the appointments of cabinet officers.

c)

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

d)

Make laws for the United States.

e)

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

9.

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

a)

Federalism

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Due Process

10.

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.

a)

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

b)

Propose legislation that he would like to see Congress introduce.

c)

Call Congress into a special session to discuss legislation.

d)

Veto a bill that has passed both houses of Congress.

e)

Appoint a member to the House who supports his ideas.

11.

What are some of the ways that the President (executive) may check the powers of the U.S. Supreme Court (judicial) ?

a)

Appoint federal judges and justices to office.

b)

Declare an act of the judicial branch to be unconstitutional.

c)

Grants pardons or reprieves to those found guilty or under suspicion for breaking the laws.

d)

Impeach a member of the Supreme Court who rules against him.

12.

What are some of the ways the U.S. Congress (legislative) can limit or check the powers of the President (executive)? Check all that apply.

a)

Impeach the President and accuse of wrongdoing.

b)

Appoint members to the Executive Cabinet.

c)

Override a veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress.

d)

Approve or reject Presidential appointments (Senate)

e)

Declare an executive act to be unconstitutional.

13.

What are some of the ways that the U.S. Congress (legislative) can limit or check the power of the U.S. Supreme Court (judicial)?

a)

Prepare the annual budget for the United States.

b)

Approve the appointment of federal judges/justices (Senate).

c)

Impeach a federal judge or justice of wrongdoing.

d)

Make laws limiting the power of the judicial branch.

14.

The U.S. Supreme Court (judicial) can check or limit the power of the President (executive) and Congress (legislative) in what ways? Choose all that apply.

a)

Declaring a law to be constitutional or unconstitutional using the power of judicial review.

b)

Declaring an executive act or order to be constitutional or unconstitutional using the power of judicial review.

c)

Impeaching members of the U.S. Congress for wrongdoing.

d)

Making laws that restrict the actions of Congress.

15.

What numbers should go beside the steps to put them in the correct order from beginning to end.

a)

3,6,5,2,1,4

b)

6,5,4,3,2,1

c)

6,5,3,1,4,2

d)

1,2,4,3,6,5

16.

Group of officials appointed by the President who help advise him and aid him in carrying out the laws is the...

a)

Cabinet

b)

Senate

c)

Parliament

d)

Chamber

17.

The President can do which of the following to influence public policy? Choose all that apply.

a)

Recommend legislation during the annual State of the Union Address.

b)

Appoint members to the U.S. Senate.

c)

Sign or veto legislation that has been passed by Congress.

d)

Appeal to the public for support of his ideas using the media.

e)

Issue executive acts or orders.

18.

The power of the President has ____ since the U.S. Constitution was written?

a)

Grown

b)

Shrank

19.

When the President is head of our armed forces he is carrying out what role?

a)

Chief Citizen

b)

Commander In Chief

c)

Chief Diplomat

d)

Chief of State

20.

When the President serves as the architect of American foreign policy he is carrying out what role?

a)

Chief of Party

b)

Commander In Chief

c)

Chief Citizen

d)

Chief Diplomat

21.

When the President serves as the main proposer of the legislative agenda he is carrying out what role?

a)

Chief of State

b)

Chief Legislator

c)

Commander In Chief

d)

Chief Diplomat

22.

When the President honors great accomplishment such as giving out the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Medal of Honor, or welcoming champion sports teams to the White House he is carrying out what role?

a)

Chief Citizen

b)

Commander In Chief

c)

Chief of Party

d)

Chief Legislator

23.

Which of the following is not part of the executive branch for the state of Virginia?

a)

Governor

b)

Lieutenant Governor

c)

Cabinet

d)

Mayor

24.

The legislative branch for the state of Virginia is led by the ...

a)

Congress

b)

General Assembly

c)

Board of Supervisors

d)

Parliament

25.

The Governor is responsible for all of the following actions EXCEPT

a)

Preparing the biennial budget.

b)

Appointing officials and judges.

c)

Enforcing or carrying out state laws.

d)

Making treaties with other nations.

26.

The Virginia General Assembly is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT?

a)

Making laws for the state of Virginia

b)

Approving appointments and the budget.

c)

Levying, collecting, and raising taxes.

d)

Declaring war on another nation.

27.

Choose all of the following that are Delegated powers. Delegated powers are those that belong only to the national government.

a)

Levy, raise, and collect taxes.

b)

Make treaties with foreign nations.

c)

Conduct elections.

d)

Declare war against another nation.

e)

Coin money.

28.

Choose all of the following that are Reserved Powers. Reserved powers are those that belong exclusively to the states.

a)

Issuing licenses.

b)

Establish courts.

c)

Coin Money

d)

Conduct elections.

e)

Establish schools.

29.

Choose which of the following are considered Concurrent Powers. Concurrent powers are those shared by the national, state, and often the local government.

a)

Collect taxes

b)

Make laws

c)

Establish courts

d)

Declare war

e)

Coin Money

30.

Which of the following is not a primary responsibility of the national government?

a)

Conduct foreign policy

b)

Regulate commerce

c)

Promote public health, safety, and welfare.

d)

Provide for the common defense

31.

Which level of government is supreme according to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

National

b)

Local

c)

State

d)

Legislative

32.

The primary issues of the Virginia General Assembly include which of the following? Choose all that apply.

a)

Education

b)

Military

c)

State Budget

d)

Public Health

e)

Environment

33.

The group of officials who advise the governor and help administer laws through their departments are called?

a)

Senate

b)

Parliament

c)

Cabinet

d)

Judiciary

34.

The governor gets his or her powers from where?

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

City Charters

c)

Virginia Constitution

d)

Federal Laws

35.

The executive branch may influence public policy in all of the following ways EXCEPT?

a)

Proposing a biennial budget.

b)

Proposing legislation in the State of the Union Address.

c)

Removing members of the General Assembly who disagree with policy.

d)

Approving or vetoing bills passed by the General Assembly.

36.

The governor is the main proposer of the legislative agenda such as the State of the Commonwealth Address. This relates to what role of the Governor?

a)

Chief Legislator

b)

Chief of State

c)

Commander-In-Chief

d)

Chief Citizen

37.

The governor may dispatch the Virginia National Guard to deal with threats of violence or o help with efforts of recovery after a natural disaster. This relates to what role of the governor?

a)

Chief of State

b)

Commander In Chief

c)

Chief Citizen

d)

Party Chief

38.

Who are the legislative leaders for a county government in Virginia?

a)

General Assembly

b)

Congress

c)

Council

d)

Board of Supervisors

39.

Who are the legislative leaders for a city or town?

a)

Senate

b)

Parliament

c)

Congress

d)

Council

40.

Who is the executive leader for a city or town?

a)

President

b)

Governor

c)

Mayor

d)

Administrator

41.

Who is the executive leader for a county?

a)

President

b)

Governor

c)

Mayor

d)

Administrator

42.

What are the local government organizations for Virginia?

a)

District

b)

County

c)

City

d)

Region

e)

Town

43.

What positions must every local government elect? Choose all that apply.

a)

Judges

b)

Sheriff

c)

School Board

d)

Treasurer

e)

Clerk of the Circuit Court

44.

Local governments exercise which of the following powers? Choose all that apply.

a)

Educating children.

b)

Funding the military.

c)

Regulating land use.

d)

Levying and collecting taxes.

e)

Establishing a postal system.

45.

Where do local governments get their powers?

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Federal Laws

c)

General Assembly

d)

State / State Constitution

46.

At what level of government do individuals exercise the most influence?

a)

National

b)

State

c)

Local

d)

Regional

47.

The powers of a city government are listed where?

a)

Amendment

b)

Article

c)

Charter

d)

Constitution

48.

Attempting to seek a legislator to vote for or against a bill is known as what?

a)

Gerrymandering

b)

Allocation

c)

Lobbying

d)

Vetoing

49.

Individuals can influence public policy in all of the following ways EXCEPT

a)

Voting for candidates who support their views.

b)

Campaigning for candidates who support their views.

c)

Running for public office themselves.

d)

Refusing to follow a law that has been passed because they disagree.

50.

When the media reports that a government official accepted large sums of money from an interest group what role are they carrying out?

a)

Offering a forum for opposing views.

b)

Holding government officials accountable to the public.

c)

Expressing their support for one candidate.

d)

Attempting to influence individuals to join interest groups.