Branches of Government Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which statement correctly describes the federal impeachment process?
The Supreme Court brings charges, and the president conducts the trial
The House brings charges, and the Senate conducts the trial
The president brings charges, and the Supreme Court conducts the trial
The Senate brings charges, and the House conducts the trial
2. Which responsibility belongs primarily to the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government?
Resolving cases under federal law
Enforcing federal laws through agencies
Writing and passing federal laws
Commanding the armed forces
3. Which description correctly matches the federal roles in making treaties?
The House negotiates treaties, and the Supreme Court approves them
The president makes treaties with the advice and consent of two-thirds of senators present
The Supreme Court negotiates treaties, and the Cabinet ratifies them
State legislatures negotiate treaties, and Congress approves them unanimously
4. A dispute in a proper federal case concerns whether a state rule conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. Which branch is responsible for resolving the legal question?
The executive branch through a Cabinet vote
The military through a court-martial
The legislative branch through an executive order
The judicial branch through the federal courts
5. Congress passes a bill, but the president formally rejects it. Which branch exercised the veto power?
The legislative branch
The judicial branch
The executive branch
Both houses of Congress acting as a judicial body
6. A federal court finds that an executive action conflicts with the Constitution. What may the court do as part of the system of checks and balances?
Remove every executive official from office
Replace the action with a bill written by judges
Assume control of the executive branch
Rule that the action cannot lawfully be enforced
7. Which institution forms the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government?
The Supreme Court and lower federal courts
The president and Cabinet
Congress, consisting of the House and Senate
The governors and state legislatures
8. What is a central purpose of dividing federal power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches?
To limit concentrated power through separated functions and mutual checks
To prevent courts from reviewing government action
To allow one branch to control the others permanently
To ensure each branch performs exactly the same functions
9. Which feature most directly helps protect federal judges from losing their positions because of an unpopular ruling?
They may veto legislation
They are elected every two years
They control congressional appropriations
They generally hold office during good behavior
10. The president vetoes a bill that previously passed both houses of Congress. How can Congress enact it over the veto?
Ask the Supreme Court to sign it
Approve it again by a two-thirds vote in each house
Pass it again by a simple majority of the Senate only
Send it to state governors for unanimous approval
11. A person argues that a new federal law violates the Constitution. Which process allows the courts to assess that claim in a proper case?
Legislative apportionment
Executive privilege
Judicial review
Cabinet confirmation
12. A federal program cannot operate without new funding. Which institution generally has the constitutional power to appropriate that money?
Congress
The Supreme Court
The Cabinet acting alone
The Federal Reserve
13. Congress creates a federal agency and gives it authority to administer a new law. Which branch generally oversees that agency's day-to-day enforcement work?
The legislative branch
The judicial branch
The governments of foreign countries
The executive branch
14. A vacancy opens on a federal court. Who has the constitutional power to nominate a new federal judge?
The president
The Chief Justice
The Speaker of the House
The attorney general acting independently
15. Which branch primarily decides cases involving the meaning and application of the Constitution?
The judicial branch
The executive branch
The legislative branch
State governors acting together
16. The president nominates someone to a high federal office. Which action is a legislative check on that appointment power?
The Supreme Court rewrites the nomination
The Senate considers whether to confirm the nominee
A federal agency holds a national election
The House appoints a different candidate