System of Government

Question 16

Name the three branches of government.

• Legislative, executive, and judicial
• Congress, president, and the courts

Question 17

The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

• Executive branch

Question 18

What part of the federal government writes laws?

• (U.S.) Congress
• (U.S. or national) legislature
• Legislative branch

Question 19

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

• Senate and House (of Representatives)

Question 20 65/20

Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

• Writes laws
• Declares war
• Makes the federal budget

Question 21

How many U.S. senators are there?

• One hundred (100)

Question 22

How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

• Six (6) years

Question 23

Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?

• Answers will vary.

District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. senators.

Question 24

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

• Four hundred thirty-five (435)

Question 25

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

• Two (2) years

Question 26

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

• To more closely follow public opinion

Question 27

How many senators does each state have?

• Two (2)

Question 28

Why does each state have two senators?

• Equal representation (for small states)
• The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Question 29

Name your U.S. representative.

• Answers will vary.

Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) representatives in Congress.

Question 30 65/20

What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

• Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

This answer changes. USCIS does not print the name in its question list either; it publishes the current officeholder separately. Check the official test updates page before your interview and answer with whoever holds the office on that day.

Question 31

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

• Citizens of their state
• People of their state

Question 32

Who elects U.S. senators?

• Citizens from their state

Question 33

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

Question 34

Who elects members of the House of Representatives?

• Citizens from their (congressional) district

Question 35

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

Question 36 65/20

The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

• Four (4) years

Question 37

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

Question 38 65/20

What is the name of the President of the United States now?

• Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.

This answer changes. USCIS does not print the name in its question list either; it publishes the current officeholder separately. Check the official test updates page before your interview and answer with whoever holds the office on that day.

Question 39 65/20

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

• Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.

This answer changes. USCIS does not print the name in its question list either; it publishes the current officeholder separately. Check the official test updates page before your interview and answer with whoever holds the office on that day.

Question 40

If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

• The Vice President (of the United States)

Question 41

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

Question 42

Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

• The President (of the United States)

Question 43

Who signs bills to become laws?

• The President (of the United States)

Question 44 65/20

Who vetoes bills?

• The President (of the United States)

Question 45

Who appoints federal judges?

• The President (of the United States)

Question 46

The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

• President (of the United States)
• Cabinet
• Federal departments and agencies

Question 47

What does the President's Cabinet do?

• Advises the President (of the United States)

Question 48

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

Question 49

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.

Question 50

What is one part of the judicial branch?

• Supreme Court
• Federal Courts

Question 51

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

Question 52 65/20

What is the highest court in the United States?

• Supreme Court

Question 53

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

• Nine (9)

Question 54

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

• Five (5)

Question 55

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

• (For) life
• Lifetime appointment
• (Until) retirement

Question 56

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

• To be independent (of politics)
• To limit outside (political) influence

Question 57

Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

• Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.

This answer changes. USCIS does not print the name in its question list either; it publishes the current officeholder separately. Check the official test updates page before your interview and answer with whoever holds the office on that day.

Question 58

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

Question 59

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

Question 60

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.

Question 61 65/20

Who is the governor of your state now?

• Answers will vary.

District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.

Question 62

What is the capital of your state?

• Answers will vary.

District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.