System of Government
How the government is actually put together: three branches, two chambers of Congress, and a set of numbers that trip people up more than anything else on the test. 100 senators, 435 representatives, 9 justices, and terms of 2, 4 and 6 years.
Practice this set for free — no account needed. Loads 23 flashcards into the learner.
Practice in the free learnerHow to study this set
Drill the numbers as a block, not one card at a time — Senate 100 / six-year terms, House 435 / two-year terms, President four years, Supreme Court nine. Most wrong answers in this section are a number swapped between the Senate and the House.
All 23 flashcards
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial; Congress, president, and the courts
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and balances; separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The President
Who makes federal laws?
Congress; Senate and House (of Representatives); (US or national) legislature
What are the two parts of the US Congress?
The Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many US Senators are there?
One hundred (100)
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
Six (6)
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
Two (2)
We elect a President for how many years?
Four (4)
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
The President
Who signs bills to become laws?
The President
Who vetoes bills?
The President
What does the President's Cabinet do?
Advises the President
What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
A fixed number, printed directly in the question list — unlike the Chief Justice’s name, this one does not change with appointments.
Who does a US Senator represent?
All people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(Because of) the state's population; (because) they have more people; (because) some states have more people
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Secretary of Agriculture; Commerce; Defense; Education; Energy; Health and Human Services; Homeland Security; Housing and Urban Development; Interior; Labor; State; Transportation; Treasury; Veterans Affairs; Attorney General; Vice President
Name any two.
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disputes (disagreements); decides if a law goes against the Constitution
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
To print paper money; mint coins; declare war; create an army; make treaties; set foreign policy
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
Provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver's license; approve zoning and land use
What to learn next
Next: Level 3, Rights and Responsibilities — what citizenship gives you, and what it asks of you.
Continue to Level 3: Rights and Responsibilities →