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U.S. Government Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz about general knowledge of the United States Government.

A multiple-choice quiz by suave1402. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
suave1402

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
268,249

Updated
Mar 27 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
6912

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 67 (13/15), Guest 98 (13/15), Guest 69 (10/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. How long is a U.S. Senator's term? Hint

eight years

four years

six years

two years

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Question 2 of 15

2. How many branches are in the national government and what are their names? Hint

2 - Upper House and Lower House

3 - Federal, State, and Local

3 - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

2 - Senate and House

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Question 3 of 15

3. In order to win the Presidency, the candidate must receive the most individual votes.

True

False

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Question 4 of 15

4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court? Hint

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which of the following is NOT a requirement to be elected President? Hint

Must be a naturally born citizen.

Must have the support of a political party.

Must be at least 35 years old.

Must have been a resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

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Question 6 of 15

6. What position does the Vice President hold in the Legislative branch? Hint

Majority Whip

Lord Chancellor

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which of the following is a power NOT given to Congress by the Constitution? Hint

To appoint justices to the supreme court.

The power to collect taxes.

The power to declare war.

To make any law necessary to carry out its responsibilites.

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who is the first President to have never been elected as Vice President or as President? Hint

Gerald Ford

James Garfield

George Washington

Calvin Coolidge

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Question 9 of 15

9. What word is used for a long speech by a Senator that halts the passage of a bill?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 10 of 15

10. What is the Bill of Rights? Hint

First 5 Amendments to the US Constitution

An Article in the Constitution

Congressional Bills that protect human rights

First 10 Amendments to the US Constitution

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Question 11 of 15

11. The Constitution was the first governing framework in the United States.

True

False

12. "Checks & Balances" is the term that refers to the relationship between the three US branches and how each one has powers to make sure the other two don't abuse their powers. What process can be used as a check on the presidency? Hint

Usurpation of power

Veto

Impeachment

Legislative oversight

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms? Hint

Zachary Taylor

Ulysses S. Grant

Grover Cleveland

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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Question 14 of 15

14. When two or more candidates are running from the same political party, what must a candidate win in order to be the sole candidate for their political party? Hint

The Main Election

The Referendum

The Primary

A Vote of Confidence

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which of the following does NOT refer to something that might be used by the President or the Executive Branch? Hint

Plausible Deniability

Cloture

Executive Privilege

Pocket Veto

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 19 2024 : Guest 67: 13/15
Nov 19 2024 : Guest 98: 13/15
Nov 18 2024 : Guest 69: 10/15
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 71: 15/15
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 92: 9/15
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 205: 7/15
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 205: 3/15
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 205: 13/15
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 205: 9/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How long is a U.S. Senator's term?

Answer: six years

A U.S. Senator is elected for a term of six years. Since they are elected for a longer term they are supposed to be in touch with the needs of the national government. Conversely, Representatives are supposed to be more in touch with the wishes of their state.

2. How many branches are in the national government and what are their names?

Answer: 3 - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

There are 3 separate branches of the national government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Legislative branch makes the law, the Executive branch enforces the law, and the Judicial branch interprets the law. These three work together to form the national government.

3. In order to win the Presidency, the candidate must receive the most individual votes.

Answer: False

Receiving the most individual or popular votes does not mean victory. What matters is the electoral college, in which the electors cast their vote normally for the candidate that won the most votes in their state. For example, if candidate A received 1600 more votes than candidate B in a certain state, that person would win all the electoral votes from that state.

This is called the winner take all system. This system has placed states with a lot of people (thus more electoral votes) of more value than others.

Hence winning Texas is more valuable than winning Maine since Texas has 34 electoral votes and Maine only has 4.

4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?

Answer: 9

There are 9 justices on the Supreme Court, although FDR at one time tried to lengthen the amount of justices by a bill which would allow him to appoint a new justice for each one over 70. This was called his court-packing plan, which was defeated by Congress.

5. Which of the following is NOT a requirement to be elected President?

Answer: Must have the support of a political party.

Candidates do not need to receive the support of a political party in order to run for president. Nevertheless, having the support of one does greatly increase the success of that candidate.

6. What position does the Vice President hold in the Legislative branch?

Answer: President of the Senate

The Vice President is not only first in line to the Presidency but also oversees the Senate and casts a vote in case of a tie. The VP therefore has power in both the Executive and Legislative branch, a position unique among the three branches.

7. Which of the following is a power NOT given to Congress by the Constitution?

Answer: To appoint justices to the supreme court.

Congress does not have the power to appoint justices, the president does, but the Senate has to confirm any appointments made by the President. In this way the Congress can check on any nominee the President makes.

8. Who is the first President to have never been elected as Vice President or as President?

Answer: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford assumed the Vice Presidency when Spiro Agnew resigned and then subsequently assumed the Presidency when Richard Nixon resigned. Therefore, he was never elected into either office.

9. What word is used for a long speech by a Senator that halts the passage of a bill?

Answer: Filibuster

A Filibuster occurs when a senator makes a long speech so that a bill is not able to come up for a vote. This could never occur in the House because there are rules about the length of debate and speeches. The House has many more rules than the Senate because of its size.

10. What is the Bill of Rights?

Answer: First 10 Amendments to the US Constitution

The Bill of Rights is also known as the first 10 amendments. Certain founding fathers demanded that a Bill of Rights be included with the Constitution to ensure the safety of rights for Americans. Although it was drafted shortly after the Constitution it is not included in the Constitution.

11. The Constitution was the first governing framework in the United States.

Answer: False

The Articles of Confederation were the first framework for the US. They provided more power to the states and left the national government weak. After seeing this flaw, politicians discarded the Articles and drafted the Constitution we have today.

Answer: Impeachment

Impeachment means that the president is being threatened with removal from office. Once impeached, the Senate will then vote on whether to remove the president from office.

13. Who is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms?

Answer: Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He served from 1885-1889 and then again from 1893-1897.

14. When two or more candidates are running from the same political party, what must a candidate win in order to be the sole candidate for their political party?

Answer: The Primary

The Primary is an election that occurs before the main election that is only for a particular party. In these elections, electors are choosing from candidates who are all from one party. They then choose their favorite candidate to represent the party in the main election.

15. Which of the following does NOT refer to something that might be used by the President or the Executive Branch?

Answer: Cloture

Cloture happens when the Senate votes to halt all debate about a bill, this is normally used to end a filibuster.

Source: Author suave1402

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor TabbyTom before going online.
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