Civics question 17 of 128
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
Official answer
- Executive branch
Source: official USCIS question list for the 2025 version of the civics test. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.
Background
The President of the United States is in charge of the executive branch. That branch carries out and enforces the laws Congress writes, which makes it the largest of the three by a wide margin: it includes the vice president, the cabinet, and roughly two million civilian federal employees across departments and agencies. The president's own powers are set out in Article II. They include signing or vetoing bills, commanding the armed forces, negotiating treaties, nominating judges and senior officials, and issuing pardons for federal crimes. Several of those are shared rather than absolute, since the Senate must confirm nominations and approve treaties. The president does not write law, though a veto can stop one, and that separation is the point of the question and a common place to slip.
This background section is written by US Citizenship Test Practice to explain the civics fact. It is not part of the USCIS question list, and the official answer above is the one to give at the interview.
Where this question sits
It is part of System of Government, inside the American Government section of the test.
Related questions
- 34. Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
- 35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
- 36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
- 37. The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
- 38. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
- 39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?