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 40 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 40 flashcards
Name the three branches of government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial; Congress, president, and the courts
There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful; checks and balances; separation of powers
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Executive branch
What part of the federal government writes laws?
(U.S.) Congress; (U.S. or national) legislature; legislative branch
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
The Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many U.S. senators are there?
One hundred (100)
How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Six (6) years
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Four hundred thirty-five (435)
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Two (2) years
The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
Four (4) years
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
The Vice President
Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. 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 U.S. senator represent?
Citizens of their state; people of their state
Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
(Because of) the state's population; (because) they have more people; (because) some states have more people
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
Attorney General; Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Commerce; 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; Secretary of War (Defense); Vice-President; Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; Administrator of the Small Business Administration; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Director of National Intelligence; United States Trade Representative
Name any two.
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws; explains laws; resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law; decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
Name one power that is only for the federal government.
Print paper money; mint coins; declare war; create an army; make treaties; set foreign policy
Name one power that is only for the states.
Provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver’s license; approve zoning and land use
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
Writes laws; declares war; makes the federal budget
Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
To more closely follow public opinion
How many senators does each state have?
Two (2)
Why does each state have two senators?
Equal representation (for small states); the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Who elects U.S. senators?
Citizens from their state
Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
Citizens in their (congressional) district; citizens in their district; people from their (congressional) district; people in their district
Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
Citizens from their (congressional) district
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
(Because of) the 22nd Amendment; to keep the president from becoming too powerful
Name one power of the president.
Signs bills into law; vetoes bills; enforces laws; Commander in Chief (of the military); chief diplomat; appoints federal judges
Who appoints federal judges?
The President (of the United States)
The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
President (of the United States); Cabinet; federal departments and agencies
Why is the Electoral College important?
It decides who is elected president; it provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection
What is one part of the judicial branch?
Supreme Court; federal courts
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Five (5)
How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
(For) life; lifetime appointment; (until) retirement
Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
To be independent (of politics); to limit outside (political) influence
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
(It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people
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 →