Which Department? Quiz | U.S. Government

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. October 2012 was a sad time for many people along the US Atlantic coast as Hurricane Sandy swept through with destructive winds and heavy rainfall. The Osbourne family were certainly affected, but not as severely as other neighboring families because Mr. Osbourne had paid attention to warnings set forth on the Emergency Preparedness and Response website. Which government department should Mr. Edwards thank for the timely information provided to him?

Answer: Department of Health and Human Services

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the agency which heads the Emergency Preparedness and Response website which is tasked with providing information to the public in case of natural or man made catastrophes. The CDC is an agency headed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response website provides information on several catastrophic events such as weather disasters, chemical emergencies, radiation exposure to the public, mass casualties from explosions and several other events.

2. Geddy was thrilled to have found such a great job, and so soon after graduating from university. Working with engines and machinery had always come second nature to Geddy, but actually helping design nuclear propulsion equipment for the US Navy was something he never imagined he could be a part of. Naturally the first step was interviewing with a high ranking government employee. Agent Peart was methodical and calculated in the questions he asked young Geddy, but luckily he breezed through the interview process. From which government department was Agent Peart assigned?

Answer: Department of Energy

Interestingly enough, Agent Peart is employed by the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) which is part of the US Department of Energy. The NNSA is tasked with four crucial operations: managing nuclear weapons, reducing dangers involving weapons of mass destruction and promoting nuclear weapon safety, providing the United States with science and technology leadership and finally to provide the US Navy with propulsion plants for its nuclear class warships. The Department of Energy was formed in 1977 and is responsible for all matters regarding energy, whether it be from nuclear or fossil fuels. James R. Schlesinger was the first Secretary of Energy serving under President Jimmy Carter.

3. Mr. Nelson had long ago quit paying his taxes; in fact, he never thought he should have had to pay them in the first place. He worked hard as an entertainer and he was reluctant to part with the money he felt should be used for his family. Unfortunately for Mr. Nelson, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) did not agree with his theory and they stepped in and demanded to audit his income history and how much he had contributed to the IRS. Due to the nature and severity of his delinquency, the IRS insisted he attend the audit based at their headquarters located within the halls of which United States government department?

Answer: Department of the Treasury

The dreaded IRS is an agency which operates under the guidance and budget of the United States Department of the Treasury. The IRS is the agency which is in charge of collecting a portion of your paycheck which is called an income tax. Of all the agencies operating under all of the government departments in the United States, I would wager that the most feared and loathed would be the IRS. Just mere mention of having to spend time with an IRS auditor causes fear and stress in even the strongest men. The IRS was formed way back in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln as a way to help the federal government pay expenses incurred from the Civil War.

The tax was originally established to be temporary and was to be discontinued after the expenses from the war were recuperated.

Unfortunately, reconstruction was necessary and the tax was continued. After many years, Americans realized tax reform was needed and the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, allowing Congress the right to a portion of workers earnings.

This is all managed by the Internal Revenue Service.

4. Les had a new idea on how to improve an existing musical instrument. He felt his idea needed to be protected so others could not infringe on his intellectual property. He contacted the Patent and Trademark Office and was given instructions on how to submit the necessary information to them for issuance of a patent which would allow Les to claim ownership of his invention and not allow any other person to lay claim to the idea. Under which US department does the Patent and Trademark Office operate?

Answer: Department of Commerce

Les gathered his drawings, schematics and models and submitted his invention to the Patent and Trademark Office so that others could not gain from his hard work. The Patent and Trademark Office is tasked by Congress to promote science and the arts by protecting those who make discoveries for a certain period of time.

The very first US patent was issued in 1790 to a man named Samuel Hopkins for a new process which would improve the production of pot ash. The patent was signed by President George Washington.

5. One of the most recognizable figures in American television advertising was "Smokey Bear", a mascot for the prevention of forest fires. The concept was developed by the United States Forest Service as a way to educate Americans of all ages of the dangers of forest fires. "Smokey Bear" was incorporated into television, newspapers, magazines, posters and nearly every other conceivable media to remind us to properly extinguish our campfires. Which government department was responsible for this stroke of marketing genius?

Answer: Department of Agriculture

"Smokey Bear" (sometimes known as "Smokey the Bear") was created in 1944 as a means to educate people in the prevention of forest fires. His motto "Only YOU can prevent forest fires" is one of the most recognizable expressions in American history. It is estimated that 95% of American adults are familiar with the slogan and most can recite it with little or no prompting. The United States Forest Service was formed in 1905 and their mission is to manage the massive number of national forests and grasslands located in the United States.

The Forest Service operates directly under the Secretary of Agriculture.

6. Malcolm and Angus are the owners of a small construction company known for their quick and cheap work. After several on the job accidents, several of which involving injuries to their workers, they have come under scrutiny of the Occuptional Safety and Health Administration, more commonly referred to as OSHA. OSHA has had a watchful eye on Malcolm and Angus' operations ever since one of their workers complained of unsafe working conditions. Now that one of their employees has sustained serious injuries after falling from an unsafe scaffold, OSHA has threatened the owners with serious fines and potential jail time if certain safety programs are not immediately implemented to protect their employees. Under which US government department does OSHA operate?

Answer: Department of Labor

For any person who has ever worked in construction, the food industry, medical services, manufacturing, production or nearly any other occupation where safety is a priority, OSHA should be a common name. The Occupation and Safety Health Administration was established in 1971 and signed into law by President Richard Nixon as a way to protect workers by establishing programs and practices which must be followed. Failure to do so can result in serious fines and penalties to employers. OSHA is often feared by workers and management alike as they see the agency as a threat to maintaining jobs. OSHA does a great service to workers by requiring employers to operate under established codes and standards to prevent the likelihood of accidents or injuries.

7. Ted is a hunter. His entire life has been spent in the woods, river beds, jungles, swamps and anywhere possible to pursue his sport. After a day scouting white tailed deer in Florida for an upcoming hunt, Ted decides to call it a day and head back to his camp. Upon his return, he startles a Florida cougar who has been rummaging through the food left behind. The cougar turns and rushes towards Ted. Instinctively, Ted pulls his side arm and puts the cougar down before it attacks. Since Ted is familiar with the endangered species of the Florida cougar, he reports the incident to his friend, Special Agent Mustaine, who works as a law enforcement officer with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. After reporting the incident, Ted is cleared of any wrongdoing in the matter. Which US government department oversees the duties of the Fish and Wildlife Service?

Answer: Department of the Interior

The Fish and Wildlife Service is an agency within the US Department of the Interior. They are responsible for managing programs for the protection and betterment of fish, wildlife, migratory birds, reptiles and basically any other type of creepy crawly one would encounter.

The Fish and Wildlife Service employs agents who are tasked with enforcing laws to protect wild animals, particularly those as seen as endangered. The agency was established in 1940 and the agency director answers directly to the Secretary of the Interior.

8. After a day out boating, Eddie and his wife Alex were looking forward to a great meal at Diver Down's, their favorite ocean side restaurant. All there was to do was make the half hour journey back towards the beach, dock the boat alongside the restaurant and order a couple of icy margaritas. Problem was, Eddie forgot to stop at the Fair Warning Fuel Station and fill up the tank before their day on the water and the engine was now sputtering to a stall. Luckily, Eddie did remember to program the Coast Guard distress number into his cell phone. With a quick phone call, the Coast Guard dispatched a boat to their location, complete with ten gallons of fuel. That should be plenty to get the SS David Lee safely back to port. Which government department oversees the Coast Guard during times of peace?

Answer: Department of Homeland Security

During times of peace, the Department of Homeland Security is in charge of the many men and women serving in the Coast Guard. In times of war, the Coast Guard transfers over to the Department of the Navy by Congressional order. The President can also invoke his order to have the Coast Guard transferred to the Department of the Navy at any time.
The Coast Guard is one of the United State's oldest uniformed services. It was found in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton. The Coast Guard has been involved in every war that the US has been involved in.
The Coast Guard has eleven primary missions including search and rescue, drug interdiction, maritime safety, navigation aid, port safety, ice operations and several others.

9. Mr. Dickinson has finally fulfilled his last bucket list item and has completed flight school. He is one step away from obtaining his pilots license. Next up is the check flight with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examiner who will put Mr. Dickinson through a series of oral tests, equipment familiarization tests and finally a chance to demonstrate his ability to pilot his aircraft. Which US government department is in charge of the FAA?

Answer: Department of Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency within the US Department of Transportation. The FAA is responsible for eight missions regarding aviation including regulating airspace, issuing and revoking pilot licenses, operating air traffic control centers and even establishing programs to control airplane noise in populated areas. The FAA was formed in 1958, the same year as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

10. Popular Hollywood movies such as the 1993 hit "The Fugitive" and 1969s classic "True Grit" revolve around the characters who are assigned to the US Marshals Service. These tough law enforcement officers search for and apprehend known fugitives, serve as protectors of federal witnesses, transport federal criminals and even manage property seized from federal criminals. Which government department is responsible for the US Marshals Service?

Answer: Department of Justice

Formed in 1789, the US Marshals are the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals have been protecting court personnel and buildings since that time.
Many people associate the US Marshals with the old west, and it's possible that John Wayne may have had something to do with that. His portrayal of Marshal Rooster Cogburn in the movie "True Grit" was an epic performance which was later recreated by Jeff Bridges in the 2010 remake. Many fans of John Wayne may recall that it was his portrayal of Marshal Cogburn that won Mr. Wayne his only Academy Award.

Source: Author ralzzz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Which Department? Trivia Quiz

The United States has several government agencies prepared to help the population with many everyday occurrences or problems, but it's not always easy selecting which department to consult. See if you can help our citizens find the right department.

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