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

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