Which branch of the US government is responsible for making laws?
A) Executive Branch
B) Legislative Branch
C) Judicial Branch
D) Administrative Branch
Answer: B) Legislative Branch
The US Legislative Branch is composed of:
A) The President and Cabinet
B) The House of Representatives and the Senate
C) The Supreme Court
D) State Governors
Answer: B) The House of Representatives and the Senate
How many chambers make up the US Legislative Branch?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Answer: B) Two
Which of the following is not a function of the US Legislative Branch?
A) Enforcing laws
B) Passing laws
C) Overseeing the executive branch
D) Representing constituents
Answer: A) Enforcing laws
How many members are there in the US House of Representatives?
A) 100 members
B) 435 members
C) 538 members
D) 2 members from each state
Answer: B) 435 members
How many senators does each US state have?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) It varies based on the state’s population
Answer: B) Two
What is the term length for a member of the US House of Representatives?
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 6 years
D) 8 years
Answer: A) 2 years
What is the term length for a US senator?
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 6 years
D) 8 years
Answer: C) 6 years
Which chamber of the US Congress has the power to impeach federal officials?
A) House of Representatives
B) Senate
C) Supreme Court
D) President’s Cabinet
Answer: A) House of Representatives
Which chamber of the US Congress conducts the trial of impeached officials?
A) House of Representatives
B) Senate
C) Supreme Court
D) President’s Cabinet
Answer: B) Senate
How are the number of representatives in the House of Representatives from each state determined?
A) By the state’s population
B) By the state’s land area
C) By the state’s GDP
D) By the state’s number of senators
Answer: A) By the state’s population
How are the number of senators from each state determined?
A) By the state’s population
B) By the state’s land area
C) By the state’s GDP
D) Each state has two senators
Answer: D) Each state has two senators
The presiding officer of the US House of Representatives is known as the:
A) Speaker of the House
B) President Pro Tempore
C) Chief Justice
D) Vice President
Answer: A) Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the US Senate is known as the:
A) Speaker of the House
B) President Pro Tempore
C) Chief Justice
D) Vice President
Answer: D) Vice President
The Speaker of the House is second in line for the presidency after the:
A) President
B) Vice President
C) Secretary of State
D) Chief Justice
Answer: B) Vice President
The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population is known as:
A) Reapportionment
B) Redistricting
C) Gerrymandering
D) Filibustering
Answer: B) Redistricting
The practice of drawing congressional district boundaries to favor one political party is known as:
A) Reapportionment
B) Redistricting
C) Gerrymandering
D) Filibustering
Answer: C) Gerrymandering
Which of the following is a power of the US Congress?
A) Declaring war
B) Appointing federal judges
C) Vetoing bills
D) Enforcing executive orders
Answer: A) Declaring war
The principle of “checks and balances” refers to:
A) The power of the President to veto legislation
B) The ability of the courts to interpret laws
C) The power of Congress to review executive actions
D) The way in which the Constitution balances the three branches of government
Answer: D) The way in which the Constitution balances the three branches of government
The Elastic Clause, also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, grants Congress the power to:
A) Declare war
B) Ratify treaties
C) Make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties
D) Appoint federal judges
Answer: C) Make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties
The Senate has the authority to approve or reject:
A) Executive orders
B) Supreme Court decisions
C) International treaties
D) State laws
Answer: C) International treaties
Which of the following is a power held exclusively by the US House of Representatives?
A) Approving presidential appointments
B) Ratifying treaties
C) Initiating revenue bills
D) Confirming federal judges
Answer: C) Initiating revenue bills
The power of Congress to review and monitor the actions of the executive branch is known as:
A) Judicial review
B) Executive privilege
C) Legislative oversight
D) Veto power
Answer: C) Legislative oversight
Which of the following terms refers to a practice in which senators delay or block a bill by speaking for an extended period?
A) Veto
B) Reapportionment
C) Filibuster
D) Gerrymandering
Answer: C) Filibuster
The process of passing a bill into law involves both chambers of Congress and the:
A) President
B) Supreme Court
C) Vice President
D) Speaker of the House
Answer: A) President
What is the main function of a conference committee in the legislative process?
A) Introducing new bills
B) Debating bills on the floor
C) Reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
D) Approving treaties
Answer: C) Reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
What is a committee report in the legislative process?
A) A speech given by the President
B) A summary of a bill’s provisions and purposes
C) A bill that has been approved by both chambers of Congress
D) An executive order
Answer: B) A summary of a bill’s provisions and purposes
The practice of drawing congressional district boundaries to give one political party an advantage is known as:
A) Reapportionment
B) Redistricting
C) Gerrymandering
D) Filibustering
Answer: C) Gerrymandering
Which of the following statements about the impeachment process is true?
A) The President can be impeached by Congress without any evidence of wrongdoing.
B) Impeachment requires a simple majority vote in both chambers of Congress.
C) A conviction in an impeachment trial results in immediate removal from office.
D) Impeachment is solely a judicial process carried out by the Supreme Court.
Answer: B) Impeachment requires a simple majority vote in both chambers of Congress.
What role does the US Senate play in the confirmation process of federal judges?
A) The Senate confirms federal judges with a simple majority vote.
B) The Senate confirms federal judges with a two-thirds majority vote.
C) The Senate has no role in the confirmation of federal judges.
D) The President is solely responsible for appointing federal judges.
Answer: A) The Senate confirms federal judges with a simple majority vote.
What is the primary purpose of a filibuster in the US Senate?
A) To expedite the passage of a bill
B) To block or delay a bill by speaking for an extended time
C) To encourage debate and discussion on a bill
D) To pass a bill without amendments
Answer: B) To block or delay a bill by speaking for an extended time
What is a quorum in the context of congressional proceedings?
A) A majority of members required to conduct business
B) A specific number of bills introduced each session
C) A procedural motion to end debate
D) A type of congressional committee
Answer: A) A majority of members required to conduct business
What is a joint resolution in the legislative process?
A) A bill passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President
B) A bill that originates in the Senate
C) A bill that involves international matters
D) A procedural motion to end debate
Answer: A) A bill passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President
What is a pocket veto?
A) The President’s power to veto bills passed by Congress
B) The President’s power to ignore bills passed by Congress
C) The President’s power to sign bills into law
D) The President’s power to initiate legislation
Answer: B) The President’s power to ignore bills passed by Congress
Which of the following terms refers to the power of Congress to review and revise the federal budget?
A) Executive oversight
B) Judicial review
C) Legislative oversight
D) Power of the purse
Answer: D) Power of the purse
The process of reviewing and revising a bill in committee before it goes to the full chamber is known as:
A) Filibustering
B) Cloture
C) Markup
D) Pocket veto
Answer: C) Markup
Which of the following statements about the Committee on Rules is true?
A) It is responsible for reviewing federal budgets.
B) It oversees the appointment of federal judges.
C) It determines the order in which bills are considered on the House floor.
D) It has the power to veto bills passed by Congress.
Answer: C) It determines the order in which bills are considered on the House floor.
The power of Congress to review and revise the federal budget is a check on which branch of government?
A) Executive Branch
B) Legislative Branch
C) Judicial Branch
D) Administrative Branch
Answer: A) Executive Branch
What is the main function of a conference committee in the legislative process?
A) Introducing new bills
B) Debating bills on the floor
C) Reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
D) Approving treaties
Answer: C) Reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
The process of passing a bill into law involves both chambers of Congress and the:
A) President
B) Supreme Court
C) Vice President
D) Speaker of the House
Answer: A) President
What is the main function of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)?
A) To review and approve treaties
B) To prepare the federal budget
C) To provide nonpartisan financial analysis to Congress
D) To appoint federal judges
Answer: C) To provide nonpartisan financial analysis to Congress
The practice of requiring senators to speak continuously to maintain control of the floor and delay a vote is known as:
A) Reconciliation
B) Filibuster
C) Pocket veto
D) Cloture
Answer: B) Filibuster
What is the purpose of the “power of the purse” held by the US Congress?
A) To appoint federal judges
B) To declare war
C) To review executive orders
D) To control government spending through the federal budget
Answer: D) To control government spending through the federal budget
Which of the following statements about a veto is true?
A) A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress.
B) A veto can only be issued by the President.
C) A veto can be issued by the Speaker of the House.
D) A veto can be issued by a simple majority vote in the Senate.
Answer: A) A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress.
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
A) By a simple majority vote in both chambers
B) By a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers
C) By a majority vote in the House of Representatives only
D) By a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate only
Answer: B) By a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers
Which of the following is a power exclusively held by the US Senate?
A) Initiating revenue bills
B) Confirming presidential appointments
C) Initiating impeachment proceedings
D) Ratifying treaties
Answer: D) Ratifying treaties
The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population is known as:
A) Reapportionment
B) Redistricting
C) Gerrymandering
D) Filibustering
Answer: B) Redistricting
The principle of “checks and balances” refers to:
A) The power of the President to veto legislation
B) The ability of the courts to interpret laws
C) The power of Congress to review executive actions
D) The way in which the Constitution balances the three branches of government
Answer: D) The way in which the Constitution balances the three branches of government
The Elastic Clause, also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, grants Congress the power to:
A) Declare war
B) Ratify treaties
C) Make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties
D) Appoint federal judges
Answer: C) Make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties
The Senate has the authority to approve or reject:
A) Executive orders
B) Supreme Court decisions
C) International treaties
D) State laws
Answer: C) International treaties
