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Social Studies
9th -
12thgrade
Unit 2: Interactions among the branches of government
28 questions
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- 1. Multiple Choice
What is "due process of law?"
Government must act fairly and in accordance with established rules
Government must not enact too many laws or regulations.
Office holders and officials must be bound by the laws.
The process of citizens following the law.
- 2. Multiple Choice
Why did the Constitution provide for two separate court systems?
to establish the federal court system as having more power than State courts
to keep the federal court system from being overwhelmed
to strengthen the balance of power between the three branches of Federal Government
to maintain a balance of power between the Federal Government and the States
- 3. Multiple Choice
The only official task of the vice-president is to
advise the president in foreign affairs
serve as the president's good will ambassador to other countries
preside over the Senate and to vote in case of a tie
chair government commissions at the President's request
- 4. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government?
The voters at the state level elect a governor from a party other than the president’s.
The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress
The president issues an executive order that freezes federal government hiring
The voters reject the status quo and elect all new members of Congress
- 5. Multiple Choice
Commands the armed forces.
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
All 3 branches
Executive Branch
- 6. Multiple Choice
Can declare a law unconstitutional.
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Executive Branch
All 3 branches
- 7. Multiple Choice
What did Hamilton mean when he made the following statement?
“Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation.” —Alexander Hamilton
For laws to be effective, there must be courts to make them known to citizens consistently.
Laws that are not obeyed should be enforced by the courts.
For laws to be effective, there must be courts to interpret them consistently.
Laws that are not obeyed should be repealed by the courts.
- 8. Multiple Choice
This type of jurisdiction is shared by both Federal and State judiciary.
Appellate
Concurrent
Original
Exclusive
- 9. Multiple Choice
What is the last step of the lawmaking process in Congress?
sending the bill to the President (sign or veto)
introducing a bill in either house
working in committees
voting on the bill
- 10. Multiple Choice
In order for someone to become a cabinet member, the President must ____ them and the Senate must ___ them.
nominate, interview
appoint, accept
appoint, train
nominate, confirm
- 11. Multiple Choice
Judicial review is _____________________.
established by Article I of the Constitution.
the ability of Congress to veto Supreme Court rulings.
the courts ability to determine if laws are constitutional.
the court's power to tax.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Which statement correctly describes the legislative branch?
It is made up of courts.
It is split into two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives
It is led by the president of the United States.It is made up of courts.
It includes a group of advisors known as “the Cabinet.”
- 13. Multiple Choice
How are federal judges selected?
The person is named to the bench by the President and does not need to be confirmed.
The person is named to the bench by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The person is nominated by the Senate and chosen by the President.
The person is publicly elected to the bench and confirmed by the Senate.
- 14. Multiple Choice
What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction?
Original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard after it was tried in a lower court.
Original jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a federal court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a State court.
Original jurisdiction refers to criminal or civil cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to only to civil cases.
Original jurisdiction refers to a case that could be heard in a federal or a State court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court.
- 15. Multiple Choice
Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?
Checks and balances
Federalism
Representation
The Bill of Rights
- 16. Multiple Choice
Appointments to the federal judiciary are often contentious for which of the following reasons?
Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president’s term is over.
Federal judges are given a platform to legislate from the bench, and the Senate is hesitant about relinquishing power to the judiciary.
The president selects nominees based on political orientation, while the Senate focuses on the academic credentials of nominees.
The House of Representatives can undermine presidential authority by overriding judicial appointments.
- 17. Multiple Choice
What is the best rationale for allowing Supreme Court justices to serve for life terms?
They serve for life terms so that they may develop a body of consistent and understandable law over time.
It takes time for a justice to gain experience in decision making, so they serve for life to make sure the judiciary is experienced.
Their salaries are so low that it is difficult to attract good candidates; job security makes their positions more attractive.
They protect the rights of the minority, and the protection of life tenure allows them to make legally correct, but unpopular, decisions.
- 18. Multiple Choice
Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court’s power?
Fire and replace justices
Veto parts of the Court’s decisions
Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court
Adopt new constitutional amendments
- 19. Multiple Choice
Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives.
Resignation
Eviction
Conviction
Impeachment
- 20. Multiple Choice
The term bicameralism refers to the
members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies
members of the House of Representatives having two year term
establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules
presidents having veto power over both chambers of Congress
- 21. Multiple Choice
Among the legislative branch’s checks on the executive branch is their power to
introduce bills to the floor of Congress
override a veto
break a filibuster
levitate and use his x-ray vision
- 22. Multiple Choice
How many electoral votes are needed to become president?
218
270
535
435
- 23. Multiple Choice
The majority party in the Senate is concerned that the Supreme Court has made a number of ideologically dangerous and controversial rulings. Which of the following actions would the Senate take in their attempt to limit the Supreme Court’s power?
Replace the chief justice of the Supreme Court with someone with whom they agree with ideologically
Ratify a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court’s power
Pass legislation that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent rulings
Enforce term limits for justices on the Supreme Court
- 24. Multiple Choice
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill.
Filibuster
Incrementalism
Incumbent
Crisis
- 25. Multiple Choice
Controls the impeachment process.
All 3 branches
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
- 26. Multiple Choice
Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by:
Simple majority in the Senate only
2/3 vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate
Simple majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate
2/3 vote in the House of Representatives only
- 27. Multiple Choice
Appellate Jurisdiction is when:
a court has the authority to hear a case
a court reviews the decision of a lower court
power is shared between the Federal and State courts to hear a certain case
a court is the first to hear a case
- 28. Multiple Choice
Which of the following constitutional provisions broadened the power of Congress?
The necessary and proper clause
The Ninth Amendment
The equal protection clause
The Tenth Amendment
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