{ "source": "https://peabody.kids/flashcards/civics-citizenship-government", "id": "civics-citizenship-government", "title": "Citizenship Test: How the Government Works", "category": "social-studies", "subject": "Civics", "levels": [ "9-12", "adult" ], "description": "Practice questions on Congress, the president, the courts, states and federal powers, in the style of the US naturalization civics test (our own wording).", "tags": [ "citizenship", "congress", "president", "supreme court" ], "frontLabel": "Question", "backLabel": "Answer", "cards": [ [ "Name the three branches of the federal government.", "Legislative, executive and judicial" ], [ "What is the legislative branch?", "Congress, which makes the laws" ], [ "What is the executive branch?", "The president and agencies that carry out the laws" ], [ "What is the judicial branch?", "The courts, which interpret the laws" ], [ "What keeps one branch from becoming too powerful?", "Separation of powers and checks and balances" ], [ "What is a check and balance?", "A way for one branch to limit the power of another" ], [ "Who is in charge of the executive branch?", "The president" ], [ "Who makes federal laws?", "Congress" ], [ "What are the two parts of Congress?", "The Senate and the House of Representatives" ], [ "How many US senators are there?", "One hundred (100)" ], [ "How many senators does each state have?", "Two" ], [ "How long is a senator's term?", "Six years" ], [ "How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?", "Four hundred thirty-five (435)" ], [ "How long is a House member's term?", "Two years" ], [ "Why do some states have more House members than others?", "Seats are based on each state's population" ], [ "Who does a senator represent?", "All the people of their state" ], [ "Who does a House member represent?", "The people of their district" ], [ "Who leads the House of Representatives?", "The Speaker of the House" ], [ "Who presides over the Senate?", "The vice president, who votes only to break a tie" ], [ "How long is a president's term?", "Four years" ], [ "How many terms can a president serve?", "Two elected terms" ], [ "Which amendment limited presidents to two terms?", "The 22nd Amendment" ], [ "In what month do we vote for president?", "November" ], [ "What is the Electoral College?", "The system of electors who formally choose the president" ], [ "How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win?", "At least 270" ], [ "What is the minimum age to be president?", "Thirty-five" ], [ "What must a president be, by birth?", "A natural-born citizen" ], [ "Who takes over if the president can no longer serve?", "The vice president" ], [ "If both president and vice president cannot serve, who is next?", "The Speaker of the House" ], [ "Who is the commander in chief of the military?", "The president" ], [ "Who signs bills into law?", "The president" ], [ "Who can veto a bill?", "The president" ], [ "Can Congress override a veto?", "Yes, with a two-thirds vote in both houses" ], [ "What does the cabinet do?", "Advises the president; its members head major departments" ], [ "Name one cabinet department.", "State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Education, Labor and others" ], [ "Who nominates Supreme Court justices?", "The president" ], [ "Who confirms the president's nominees for the Supreme Court?", "The Senate" ], [ "What does the judicial branch do?", "Interprets laws, settles disputes and decides if laws follow the Constitution" ], [ "What is the highest court in the US?", "The Supreme Court" ], [ "How many justices are on the Supreme Court?", "Nine" ], [ "How long do federal judges serve?", "For life, unless they resign or are removed" ], [ "What is judicial review?", "The courts' power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution" ], [ "Who declares war?", "Congress" ], [ "Who makes treaties?", "The president, with Senate approval" ], [ "Who coins and prints money?", "The federal government" ], [ "Name one power of the federal government.", "Print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties, regulate trade between states" ], [ "Name one power of state governments.", "Run schools, issue driver's licenses, hold elections, provide police" ], [ "What is federalism?", "Sharing power between the national government and states" ], [ "What does the Tenth Amendment say?", "Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people" ], [ "Who is the head of a state's government?", "The governor" ], [ "What is the head of a city government often called?", "The mayor" ], [ "What is a county?", "A region within a state with its own local government" ], [ "What is a state capital?", "The city where a state's government meets" ], [ "What is the capital of the United States?", "Washington, DC" ], [ "Who gets to vote in a state election?", "Citizens who are registered and old enough, with state rules" ], [ "What is a census?", "A count of the population taken every ten years" ], [ "What is the purpose of the census?", "To divide House seats and plan public services" ], [ "What is a bill?", "A proposed law" ], [ "What is a law?", "A rule made by the government and enforced by courts" ], [ "What is a tax?", "Money collected by the government for public services" ], [ "What does the Senate do with treaties?", "Approves them by a two-thirds vote" ], [ "Who can impeach a federal official?", "The House brings charges; the Senate holds the trial" ], [ "What is an appeal?", "Asking a higher court to review a decision" ], [ "What does the vice president do?", "Takes over if the president cannot serve, and presides over the Senate" ], [ "What is the Library of Congress?", "The nation's largest library, in Washington, DC" ], [ "What is the Capitol?", "The building where Congress meets" ], [ "What is the White House?", "Home and office of the president" ], [ "What is the Pentagon?", "Headquarters of the Department of Defense" ] ] }