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U.S. Government Part I Trivia Quiz

Here's a quiz that will test your knowledge of the United States government and how it works.

A multiple-choice quiz by mkp51. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
mkp51

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
97,947

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
3187

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (5/15), Guest 47 (2/15), Guest 149 (4/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which U.S. government official is second in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency? Hint

Secretary of the Treasury

Speaker of the House of Representatives

President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate

Secretary of State

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Question 2 of 15

2. In what year was the Department of Defense established? Hint

1789

1949

1947

1921

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Question 3 of 15

3. The three branches of the U.S. government are the Executive, Legislative, and Administrative.

True

False

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Question 4 of 15

4. Which committee of the House of Representatives is responsible for raising the revenue required to finance the U.S. Government? Hint

Taxation and Revenue Committee

Judiciary Committee

Finance Committee

Ways and Means Committee

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which member of the President's Cabinet has jurisdiction over the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)? Hint

Secretary of State

Secretary of the Interior

Attorney General

Secretary of Defense

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Question 6 of 15

6. What does Article VI of the U.S. Constitution specify? Hint

The powers vested in the U.S. Congress

Republican form of government guaranteed

Procedures for amending the Constitution

The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land.

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Question 7 of 15

7. What Federal law created the Department of Defense? Hint

National Security Act of 1947

National Defense Act of 1921

U.S Constitution

Government Reorganization Act of 1947

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Question 8 of 15

8. What does the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specify? Hint

The voting age lowered to 18 years.

Levying of income tax by the Federal Government was authorized.

Poll tax was barred in Federal elections.

Variations to Congressional pay can't take effect until after a Federal election.

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which agency of the U.S. government is charged with the specific primary responsibility of supervising and conducting government litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court? Hint

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Office of the Attorney General

Office of the Solicitor General

Office of the United States Attorney

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Question 10 of 15

10. What Latin motto appears underneath the base of the pyramid on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States? Hint

E pluribus unum

Novus Ordo Seclorum

Annuit Coeptis

no Latin motto; only the Roman numeral "MDCCLXXVI"

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Question 11 of 15

11. On October 1, 2002, what was the annual salary of the President of the United States? Hint

$575,500

$250,000

$300,000

$400,000

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Question 12 of 15

12. Before it came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security in January 2003, to which major executive branch of the U.S. Government did the U.S. Coast Guard belong? Hint

Department of Transportation

Department of the Interior

Department of the Treasury

Department of Defense

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Question 13 of 15

13. The National Security Council (NSC) falls under the jurisdiction of which U.S. government agency? Hint

Department of Defense

Central Intelligence Agency

Department of State

Executive Office of the President

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Question 14 of 15

14. According to the U.S. Constitution, all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the United States Senate.

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which committee of the U.S. Senate is responsible for legislation relating to trademarks, patents, and copyrights? Hint

Finance Committee

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Judiciary Committee

Patents and Copyrights Committee

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 02 2024 : Guest 24: 5/15
Oct 10 2024 : Guest 47: 2/15
Sep 28 2024 : Guest 149: 4/15
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 76: 0/15

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which U.S. government official is second in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency?

Answer: Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 specifies the Speaker of the House of Representatives as second in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency, immediately after the Vice President.

2. In what year was the Department of Defense established?

Answer: 1949

In 1949, the Department of Defense replaced the War Department as the agency responsible for the defense of the United States and all military matters.

3. The three branches of the U.S. government are the Executive, Legislative, and Administrative.

Answer: False

False. The Federal government's three branches are: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

4. Which committee of the House of Representatives is responsible for raising the revenue required to finance the U.S. Government?

Answer: Ways and Means Committee

In addition to raising the revenue required to finance the U.S. government, some of the other responsibilities of the House Ways and Means Committee are: trade and tariff legislation; Social Security, Medicare, and child welfare legislation; and granting authority to the Federal government to borrow money.

5. Which member of the President's Cabinet has jurisdiction over the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

Answer: Attorney General

The FBI is an agency of the Department of Justice, headed by the Attorney General.

6. What does Article VI of the U.S. Constitution specify?

Answer: The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land.

In addition to declaring the Constitution the Supreme Law of the land, Article VI also specifies that all government officials must take an oath of office to support the Constitution; that there shall be no religious test for holding public office; and that the Federal government shall honor all debts incurred before adoption of the Constitution.

7. What Federal law created the Department of Defense?

Answer: National Security Act of 1947

The National Security Act of 1947 created the National Military Establishment (NME). In 1949, Congress amended the act, and the NME became the Department of Defense. This same act also created the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

8. What does the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specify?

Answer: Variations to Congressional pay can't take effect until after a Federal election.

This amendment was first proposed in 1789, but not ratified until 1992. The amendment provides that no law varying compensation shall take effect until after the next election.

9. Which agency of the U.S. government is charged with the specific primary responsibility of supervising and conducting government litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court?

Answer: Office of the Solicitor General

The Solicitor General determines the cases in which U.S. Supreme Court review will be sought by the government, and the positions the government will take before the Court

10. What Latin motto appears underneath the base of the pyramid on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States?

Answer: Novus Ordo Seclorum

"Novus Ordo Seclorum," which translated means: "A New Order for the Ages." By the way, both sides of the Great Seal of the United States may be seen on the reverse side of the American one-dollar bill.

11. On October 1, 2002, what was the annual salary of the President of the United States?

Answer: $400,000

On October 1, 2002, the President's annual salary was $400,000 (taxable). In addition, the President received $50,000 a year (non-taxable) for costs related to official duties, and $100,000 a year (non-taxable) for travel expenses.

12. Before it came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security in January 2003, to which major executive branch of the U.S. Government did the U.S. Coast Guard belong?

Answer: Department of Transportation

The Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.

13. The National Security Council (NSC) falls under the jurisdiction of which U.S. government agency?

Answer: Executive Office of the President

The Government Reorganization Plan of 1949 placed the NSC under the jurisdiction of the Executive Office of the President.

14. According to the U.S. Constitution, all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the United States Senate.

Answer: False

False. All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives.

15. Which committee of the U.S. Senate is responsible for legislation relating to trademarks, patents, and copyrights?

Answer: Judiciary Committee

In addition to trademarks, copyrights, and patents, the Judiciary Committee's responsibilities include legislation concerning: civil liberties; bankruptcy; federal courts and judges; and mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.

Source: Author mkp51

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