Legislative Branch Questions
What are the two main parts of Congress (legislative branch)?
Hint: Structure
The Senate and The House of Representatives
Who is the head of the executive branch?
Hint: Structure
The President of the United States.
What is the highest court in the United States?
Hint: Structure
The Supreme Court.
Who does Congress represent in the United States government?
Hint - Structure/Functions
The people and the states.
Name two main groups that help the President carry out executive duties.
Hint: Structure/Function
The Vice President and the Cabinet.
What are the two main types of lower federal courts under the Supreme Court?
Hint: Structure
District Courts and Courts of Appeals.
Name two main functions of the legislative branch besides making laws.
Hint: Functions
Approving the federal budget, overseeing the actions of the other branches, etc.
Name two main powers of the executive branch.
Hint: Functions
Enforcing laws, serving as commander-in-chief of the military, etc.
What is the main job of the judicial branch?
Hint: Functions
To interpret laws and decide if they follow the Constitution.
What is the first step a bill takes in Congress?
Hint: Processes
A member of Congress introduces the bill.
What happens if the President vetoes a bill from Congress?
Hint: Processes/Functions
Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, allowing the bill to become law despite the veto.
What does the Supreme Court do during judicial review?
Hint: Processes
It decides whether a law or government action is constitutional.
Describe the full process for a bill becoming a law.
Hint: Processes
A bill is introduced, studied and amended in committees, debated and voted on in both the House and Senate, then sent to the President to be signed into law or vetoed; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
How does the U.S. presidential election process work from voting to choosing the winner?
Hint: Processes
Citizens vote for electors in their state during the general election, then those electors meet in the Electoral College and cast the official votes; a candidate needs a majority (270 of 538) electoral votes to become president. A majority win in the popular vote cannot make you a president.
How does a case reach the Supreme Court?
Hint: Processes/Structure
A party asks the Court to hear the case (a petition), and the Justices choose to take it if at least four of them agree.