Government Functions
By creating traffic rules and enforcing laws against theft, government performs this function.
What is maintaining order or enforcing laws?
Under the Constitution, this branch makes federal laws.
What is the legislative branch?
Under the Constitution, this branch carries out and enforces federal laws.
What is the executive branch?
This branch interprets laws and resolves legal disputes through courts.
What is the judicial branch?
This constitutional principle gives the legislative, executive, and judicial branches different responsibilities.
What is separation of powers?
Public libraries, trash collection, and road maintenance are examples of this government function.
What is providing public services?
These two chambers make up the United States Congress.
What are the House of Representatives and the Senate?
This elected official leads the federal executive branch.
Who is the president?
This is the highest court in the federal court system.
What is the United States Supreme Court?
The president rejects a bill passed by Congress by using this power.
What is a veto?
When government safeguards freedom of speech and equal treatment under the law, it performs this function.
What is protecting rights?
Each state has two members in this chamber, regardless of population.
What is the Senate?
As commander in chief, the president leads this institution, while Congress has the power to declare war.
What are the United States armed forces or military?
This power allows courts to determine whether a law or government action violates the Constitution.
What is judicial review?
Congress can overcome a presidential veto with this fraction of the vote in each chamber.
What is a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate?
A city creates a plan to decide how public money will be spent on housing. Creating the plan is an example of this function.
What is making public policy?
In this chamber, the number of voting seats assigned to each state depends on population.
What is the House of Representatives?
These advisers lead executive departments and help the president carry out government responsibilities.
Who are Cabinet members or department secretaries?
This 1803 Supreme Court case established judicial review of federal laws by the Supreme Court.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
The president nominates a Supreme Court justice. This chamber must approve the nomination before the nominee can take the seat.
What is the Senate?
A city funds flood barriers to protect an entire neighborhood. Beyond providing a service, this function emphasizes shared community well-being.
Think before answering: Which government responsibility or constitutional power does the clue describe?
What is supporting the common good?
The Constitution assigns this branch the power to declare war and raise money through federal taxes.
Think before answering: Which government responsibility or constitutional power does the clue describe?
What is the legislative branch or Congress?
Congress passes a law funding national parks. This branch directs the agencies that put the law into practice.
Think before answering: Which government responsibility or constitutional power does the clue describe?
What is the executive branch?
A person argues that a federal law violates the Constitution. This branch can decide the constitutional question when an appropriate case comes before a court.
Think before answering: Which government responsibility or constitutional power does the clue describe?
What is the judicial branch?
The House brings formal charges against a president, and the Senate conducts a trial. This two-stage constitutional process checks executive power.
Think before answering: Which government responsibility or constitutional power does the clue describe?
What are impeachment by the House and an impeachment trial in the Senate?