B: System of Government

Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial

checks and balances
separation of powers

the President

Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature

the Senate and House (of Representatives)

one hundred (100)

six (6)

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

four hundred thirty-five (435)

two (2)

Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]

all people of the state

(because of) the state’s population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people

four (4)

November

Joe Biden

Kamala Harris

the Vice President

the Speaker of the House

the President

the President

the President

advises the President

Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President

reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution

the Supreme Court

nine (9)

John Roberts

to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties

provide schooling and education
provide protection (police)
provide safety (fire departments)
give a driver’s license
approve zoning and land use

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]

Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]

Democratic and Republican

Democratic (Party)

Mike Johnson

B: System of Government

Name one branch or part of the government.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Who makes federal laws?

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

How many U.S. Senators are there?

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

Name your U.S. Representative.

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

We elect a President for how many years?

In what month do we vote for President?

What is the name of the President of the United States now?

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

Who signs bills to become laws?

Who vetoes bills?

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

What are two Cabinet-level positions?

What does the judicial branch do?

What is the highest court in the United States?

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

Who is the Governor of your state now?

What is the capital of your state?

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

What is the political party of the President now?

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?