Politics for Power Quizzes

If you select a wrong answer, you can keep guessing till you get the right answer. Then, to move on to the next question, you click the right arrow below. (You can click the left arrow to look back at a previous question.) We encourage you to retake the quizzes periodically to refresh your knowledge.

Legislative Branch

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz tests your fundamental understanding of Congress. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Legislative Branch.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

%%FORM%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What is the primary duty of Congress?

A	To monitor the budget
B	To create and pass laws
C	To nominate judges for the federal court
D	To run the country on a daily basis

Question 2

What makes up the Congress of the United States?

A	The Senate and the Office of Management and Budget
B	The House of Representatives and the Cabinet
C	The House of Representatives and the Senate
D	The Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of the government.

Question 3

Which one of the following is NOT a power of the Congress?

A	To create laws about trade
B	To make laws about taxes
C	To interpret the Bill of Rights
D	To declare war

Question 4

How long does a Congress last?

A	Two years
B	Four years
C	Six years
D	There is no time limit on Congress.

Question 5

What is the least mandated period of time a Congress has to meet?

A	January 1st through October 20th
B	January 20th through August 31st
C	January 3rd through July 31st
D	October 30th through June 1st

Question 5 Explanation:

Relevance: It’s important to know that Congress is out of session for a good part of the year. Congress meets about 140-150 days a year. Some of the off time is spent in their districts and would not be considered vacation!

Question 6

Each state has how many Senators?

A	Only one per state
B	Only two per state
C	One per every one million residents
D	A maximum of six based on population

Question 7

What number of votes is needed to have a majority vote in the Senate?

A	60
B	A two-thirds majority.
C	Half of the votes cast plus one
D	51

Question 7 Explanation:

Because of the over-use of the filibuster, it's becoming more true that 60 votes are needed to pass a bill. Sixty votes prevents a filibuster which is a tactic that prevents a bill from even coming up for a vote in the Senate.

Question 8

What is the limit to the number of terms a Senator can serve?

A	Like the President, only two
B	A maximum of twenty-four years
C	A maximum of five terms
D	There is no limit

Question 9

If the President vetoes certain legislation, what is Congress most likely to do to pass it if Congress thinks the legislation is extremely important?

A	Ask the Supreme Court to vote to override the President.
B	Rewrite the bill and pass it as an Amendment to the Constitution
C	Override the President by having at least 60% of each house vote in favor of the bill.
D	Override the President by having two-thirds of each house vote in favor of the bill.

Question 10

Which is not a job of the Senate?

A	To elect the President of the Senate
B	To hold trials for major government officials who have done wrong
C	To pass new laws
D	To approve nominees to the Supreme Court

Question 11

What determines the number of Representatives in each state?

A	The population of the state.
B	The number of registered voters in a state from the last Presidential election
C	The number of representatives is the same for each state
D	The state Senate decides the number every ten years

Question 12

What is the term limit for a Representative?

A	They can only serve for a maximum of four terms
B	They can only serve for two terms
C	There is no term limit, since it is a lifetime election
D	As long as the people elect them, there is no limit.

Question 13

Only the House of Representatives can:

A	Declare war for the country
B	Hold a trial that could remove a President from office
C	Initiate laws that create taxes
D	Approve treaties made by the President

Question 13 Explanation:

The House can impeach a President or high official, meaning the House can formally charge the official with misconduct, but it's the Senate that holds the trial.

Question 14

What is the number needed to have a majority in the House?

A	Sixty percent of the votes cast
B	251
C	218
D	Fifty percent of the votes cast plus one

Question 15

What is the fewest number of Representatives a state can have?

A	1
B	2
C	6
D	One for every 100,000 residents

Question 16

How many United States Senators are there?

A	50
B	100
C	200
D	250

Question 17

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

A	4
B	2
C	6
D	8

Question 18

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

A	435
B	Depends on the total population. It increases with population.
C	535
D	250

Question 19

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

A	4
B	2
C	6
D	8

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 19 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	End

Return

How a Bill Becomes Law

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz tests your knowledge of the steps in how a bill that is proposed becomes a new law. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed How a Bill Becomes Law.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Which is the proper order of events for a bill to become law?

A	Bill is Drafted (then) Introduced to House/Senate (then) Conference Committee (then) Floor Action (then) Vote (then) President Signs/Vetoes
B	Bill is Drafted (then) Introduced to House/Senate (then) Floor Action (then) Vote (then) Conference Committee (then) President Signs/Vetoes
C	Bill is Drafted (then) Conference Committee (then) Introduced to House/Senate (then) Floor Action (then) Vote (then) President Signs/Vetoes

Question 2

Which of the following are true about bills being referred to committees?

A	The entire bill can be referred to multiple committees.
B	Different sections of the bill can be sent to different committees.
C	If the committee never acts upon the bill (by passing the time limit, for instance, it is essentially killed.
D	All of the above are true

Question 3

The chairman of a committee can form a subcommittee to delegate the bill to.

A	True.
B	False.

Question 4

While in committee, if substantial amendments are required, the committee can introduce a new, modified bill. This is called:

A	An “Amendatory Bill”
B	A “Clean Bill”
C	A “Dutch Bill”
D	None of the above, the committee may not introduce a new, modified bill.

Question 5

How many members of the House must be present to vote on a bill?

A	100
B	218
C	All of them
D	There's no minimum number. If representatives don't care enough to attend, bills they dislike will pass.

Question 5 Explanation:

By the way, the minimum number needed for business to occur at any meeting where voting happens is called "a quorum." So 218 is the required quorum in the House.

Question 6

What is cloture?

A	Cloture is a motion used in the Senate to pass a bill that has been stalled by a filibuster.
B	Cloture is a motion to close or "kill" a bill.
C	Cloture is a motion used in the Senate to limit further discussion on a bill that is being blocked by a filibuster.

Question 6 Explanation:

Cloture requires a 3/5s majority vote, in other words at least 60 out of the 100 votes.

Question 7

If each chamber of Congress approves a similar bill, they do not have to be exactly the same (but very close) to be sent to the President to be signed or vetoed.

A	True.
B	False.

Question 7 Explanation:

They must be exactly the same to go directly to the President. Otherwise, they are sent to a Conference Committee.

Question 8

The group of Congress members from each house that are made up of senior members who are appointed by their presiding officers to reconcile difference between bills passed in the House and Senate is called:

A	Reconciliation Committee
B	Conference Committee
C	The Ways and Means Committee

Question 8 Explanation:

FYI, the Ways and Means Committee in the House is very important. That committee has jurisdiction over taxes, tariffs and all revenue-raising measures. In effect, they control the future income of the U.S. government.

Question 9

Once the Conference Committee has reached an acceptable compromise on the details of a bill, they …

A	Sent the new bill to the President to sign or veto.
B	Send a written report to their respective chambers that must be approved before it is sent to the President.
C	Have the Speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader sign off, making the bill an official law.

Question 10

If Congress is still in session, what happens if the President does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days?

A	It automatically becomes law.
B	It automatically dies. This is called a Pocket Veto.
C	It goes to the Supreme Court who makes a decision.

Question 10 Explanation:

If Congress were NOT in session after 10 days, then it would die. That's what a pocket veto is.

Question 11

If the President actively vetoes a bill, he or she will send a report to Congress. Then what's true?

A	It can never become a law until the next White House Administration, if the bill again passes through Congress.
B	Only a bill incorporating his revisions can possibly be passed.
C	The veto can be overridden if 2/3s of both the House and Senate vote in favor of the bill.
D	The veto can be overridden if 2/3 of the members of the chamber that originally drafted the legislation vote for it.

Question 12

If you as a citizen thought a piece of legislation was vitally important, and it was stuck in a House committee, and you had some lobbying power -- lots of money or friends in Congress -- what should you push for?

A	That the Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader use his or her authority to bring it to the floor for a vote.
B	That the Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader use his or her authority to add more members to the committee to change the vote outcome.
C	That a majority of House members (at least 218) sign a petition to force it out of committee.

Question 12 Explanation:

This petition is called a Discharge Petition.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 12 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	End

Return

Executive Branch Quiz

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will test your knowledge of the role the Executive Branch plays in our democracy. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Executive Branch Quiz.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Who becomes President if both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve?

A	The Majority Leader of the Senate
B	The Secretary of State
C	The Speaker of the House
D	The Attorney General

Question 2

Which of the following is not true of the President?

A	When the President signs a bill, it become law.
B	The President can serve four or eight years.
C	The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military.
D	The President must have been a Senator or Congressman.
E	The President must be born an American Citizen.

Question 3

What is a veto?

A	When Congress refuses to accept a Presidential decision.
B	When Congress votes against a bill.
C	When the President refuses to sign a bill passed by Congress.
D	When the President issues a warning to Congress.

Question 4

Primarily what doesn’t the President’s Cabinet do?

A	Make laws in specific areas.
B	Advise the President.
C	Take orders from the President.
D	Run departments of the Executive branch.

Question 5

Which of the following are not departments of the President’s Cabinet?

A	Commerce, Defense, Housing and Urban Development.
B	Interior, Energy, Transportation.
C	Environment, Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs.
D	Veteran’s Affairs, Health and Human Services, Treasury.

Question 6

What Cabinet-level agency advises the President on foreign policy?

A	The Defense Department.
B	The State Department.
C	The National Security Agency (NSA).
D	The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Question 7

What does it mean to impeach a president?

A	It means that a President was voted out of office by the Senate.
B	It means that a President and vice-president are both voted out of office.
C	It means that a President is indicted by the House of Representatives (and forced to face a trial before the Senate)
D	It means that a President has been found guilty of serious crimes by the Senate in which the Senate acts as a jury.

Question 7 Explanation:

Bill Clinton was impeached, but was not found guilty on two charges. Therefore he was not forced out of office.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 7 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	End

Return

Judicial Branch Quiz

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will test your knowledge of the role and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch of our government. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Judicial Branch Quiz.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What doesn’t the judicial branch do?

A	Reviews and clarifies laws.
B	Decide salaries of the executive and legislative branches.
C	Resolves disputes between parties.
D	Decides if a law goes against the Constitution (“is unconstitutional"),

Question 2

Who confirms Supreme Court justices?

A	The Senate and the House of Representatives.
B	The President.
C	A majority of the current Supreme Court justices.
D	The Senate.

Question 3

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

A	12
B	5
C	7
D	9

Question 3 Explanation:

Therefore, unless there are abstentions, it takes five justices to make a majority.

Question 4

Who nominates justices to the Supreme Court?

A	The Senate and the House of Representatives.
B	The President.
C	A majority of the current Supreme Court justice.
D	The Senate.

Question 5

What happens when two parties disagree as to the interpretation of a federal law?

A	The Senate votes and decides the correct interpretation.
B	The Senate and House meet in a joint session and vote on the correct interpretation.
C	One of many joint committees of the Senate and the House vote, since there are too many disputes for the whole Senate and House to decide each one.
D	The dispute is brought before federal district court. If it is not resolved, it goes to an appellate court, and if it is still not resolved, to the Supreme Court.

Question 6

Which of the following is false?

A	The US Supreme Court can overrule the decisions of any court in the country.
B	The US Supreme Court can make a ruling that changes how the Constitution is interpreted.
C	The US Supreme Court can impeach the President of the United States.
D	The US Supreme Court cannot overrule some of the decisions of state courts.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 6 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	End

Return

Who's Who in Government?

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will show how well you know the names of the important political figures in government. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Who's Who in Government?.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What is the name of the President of the United States?

A	Barack Obama
B	George Bush
C	Al Gore
D	John McCain

Question 2

Who is the current Vice President?

A	Joseph Biden
B	Dick Cheney
C	Al Gore
D	Hillary Clinton

Question 3

Who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives?

A	Nancy Pelosi
B	John Boehner
C	Hillary Clinton
D	John McCain

Question 4

Who is the current Senate Majority Leader?

A	Harry Reid
B	Ralph Reed
C	Dick Cheney
D	John Boehner

Question 5

Who is the current Secretary of State?

A	Dr. Condoleezza Rice
B	Colin Powell
C	Hillary Clinton
D	John Kerry

Question 5 Explanation:

Hillary Clinton was the Secretary of State until January 2013, when John Kerry replaced her.

Question 6

Who is the current Attorney General?

A	Colin Powell
B	Eric Holder
C	Alberto Gonzales
D	Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Question 7

Who is the current minority leader in the U.S. Senate?

A	Nancy Pelosi
B	John McCain
C	Mitch McConnell, Jr.
D	Tom Daschle

Question 8

Who is the current minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives?

A	Harry Reid
B	Nancy Pelosi
C	Eric Cantor
D	Steny Hoyer

Question 9

Who is the current chairman of the Federal Reserve?

A	Ben Bernanke
B	Janet Yellin
C	Paul Krugman
D	Alan Greenspan

Question 9 Explanation:

Ben Bernanke was the previous Chairman. Timothy Geithner was a former Secretary of the Treasury. Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize winning economist.

Question 10

Who is the current leader of China? In other words, who is the President of the People's Republic of China?

A	Ban Ki-moon
B	Hu Jintao
C	Xi Jinping
D	Mao Zedong

Question 10 Explanation:

Hu Jintao was the previous president. Mao Zedong (also translated as Mao Tse-tung) was the founder of modern communist China. Ban Ki-moon is Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Question 11

Who is the current President of Russia?

A	Mikhail Gorbachev
B	Boris Yeltsin
C	Nikolai Perestroika
D	Vladimir Putin

Question 12

Who is the current Prime Minister of Great Britain (or the United Kingdom)?

A	John Major
B	David Cameron
C	Gordon Brown
D	Tony Blair

Question 12 Explanation:

All the others were former Prime Ministers.

Question 13

Who is the current President of Mexico?

A	Gabriel García Márquez
B	Felipe Calderón
C	Enrique Peña Nieto
D	Vicente Fox

Question 14

Who is the current leader (chancellor) of Germany?

A	Helmut Kohl
B	Angela Merkel
C	Helmut Schmidt
D	Gerhard Schröder

Question 15

Who is the current Prime Minister of Canada?

A	Stephen Harper
B	Paul Martin
C	John Major
D	François Hollande

Question 16

Who is the current Secretary of the Treasury?

A	Timothy Geithner
B	Jacob Lew
C	Ben Bernanke
D	Kathleen Sebelius

Question 17

Who is the current Secretary of Health and Human Services?

A	Sally Jewell
B	Kathleen Sebelius
C	Samantha Power

Question 17 Explanation:

FYI, Sally Jewell is Secretary of the Interior and Samantha Power is our Ambassador to the United Nations

Question 18

Who is the current House Majority Leader?

A	Harry Reid
B	Eric Cantor
C	John Boehner
D	Mitch McConnell, Jr.

Question 19

Who is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations?

A	Kofi Annan
B	Ban Ki-moon
C	Boutros Boutros-Ghali
D	Kurt Waldheim

Question 19 Explanation:

FYI, the others were previous Secretary-Generals.

Question 20

Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

A	Clarence Thomas
B	John G. Roberts, Jr.
C	Anthonin Scalia
D	Samuel A. Alito

Question 21

Who is the current Secretary of Defense?

A	Leon Panetta
B	John Kerry
C	Chuck Hagel
D	Donald Rumsfeld

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 21 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20
21	End

Return

Key Documents and Principles

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz tests your knowledge of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the principles on which these documents were based. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Key Documents and Principles.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Which of the following does the Constitution NOT do?

A	It sets up the federal government.
B	It protects basic rights of Americans.
C	It explains which powers are reserved to states.
D	It explains which powers are reserved to local governments.

Question 2

What does “We the People” mean in the Constitution?

A	The power of government comes from the people.
B	It means the United States is a democracy.
C	It means the United States is a republic.
D	It refers to the court case that began our nation: The People vs. King George III.

Question 3

What do we call changes or updates to the Constitution?

A	Bills
B	Amendments
C	The U.S. Code of Law
D	Constitutional Articles

Question 4

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

A	The Bill of Rights
B	The Articles of Confederation
C	The Federalist Amendments
D	The Ten Freedoms

Question 5

What five rights or freedoms are in the First Amendment?

A	Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to Vote, Right to Bear Arms, Ownership
B	Freedom of Speech, Ownership, Religion, Right to Vote, Right to Assemble
C	Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to Assemble, Freedom of the Press, Right to Petition the government
D	Freedom to Bear Arms, Freedom of Speech, Protection from Unlawful Arrest, Freedom of Religion and Right to Vote

Question 6

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

A	21
B	25
C	27
D	29

Question 7

What does freedom of religion mean?

A	You can practice any religion you want, or not practice at all.
B	You can practice any religion but can’t be an atheist.
C	The government cannot tax any religious organization.
D	Religious services must be free, but people can make donations.

Question 8

According to the Constitution, who does the U.S. government work for? (Who is the boss and employer of the federal government?)

A	The President
B	Congress
C	The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
D	We the People of the United States

Question 8 Explanation:

It’s important to realize that although government can control your actions through laws, it is the people, all Americans that government is accountable to. Government serves the people; the people are not government’s servants.

Question 9

There are several amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Which of the following is not in a Constitutional Amendment?

A	Any citizen 18 or older can vote.
B	A U.S. citizen of any race can vote.
C	People who have committed certain serious crimes cannot vote.
D	Women can vote, not just men.

Question 9 Explanation:

Depending on the state, people who have committed felonies cannot vote. It varies, state to state. In some states felons can never vote again; in other states once you've completed your sentence you can vote again; in other states only certain crimes lose you your right to vote.

Question 10

Adding amendments to the Constitution require two steps: proposing and ratifying. How are new amendments to the Constitution proposed?

A	A bill must be passed by 2/3s of both the Senate and the House
B	A Constitutional Convention must be called by at least 2/3s of the State Legislatures (34 states). At the Convention one or more proposals can be introduced and voted on.
C	Either A or B.

Question 11

Adding amendments to the Constitution require two steps: proposing and ratifying. How are new amendments to the Constitution ratified?

A	By a vote of 3/4s of State Legislatures
B	At a constitutional convention, if 3/4ths of the states support the amendment.
C	By 3/4ths of American voters
D	Either A or B.

Question 12

What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution is a constitution of limited powers?

A	The federal government has only the powers that the Constitution states that it has.
B	The people, the states, and the local government have powers, too.
C	Only God has unlimited powers.
D	The Constitution is limited to governing the United States, and not other countries.

Question 13

Which principle is dominant in the Declaration of Independence?

A	The Rule of Law. The King of England did not obey the laws, but acted like a tyrant and dictator.
B	People have natural rights, such as the right to live and the right to be free. They should not be deprived of these rights.
C	Separation of powers. The 13 U.S. colonies needed to separate from England and have their own power.
D	Limited Government. Even though they were declaring independence from England, the government would limit the changes it would make. For instance, it didn't change any of the size or names of the 13 states.

Question 14

What does the phrase "the rule of law" mean?

A	Everyone must obey the laws.
B	No one is above the law.
C	Even lawmakers must follow the law.
D	Everyone is equal before the law
E	All of the above.

Question 15

Which of the following is not true about the Fifth amendment?

A	The Fifth Amendment guarantees a citizen a trial by jury for any serious crime
B	The Fifth Amendment requires "due process" before a person can but put in prison, given capital punishment or have his/her property taken away.
C	The Fifth Amendment says that a person cannot be forced to testify against himself.
D	The Fifth Amendment says that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. (This is known as "double jeopardy.")
E	The Fifth Amendment guarantees a citizen the right to a speedy trial.

Question 15 Explanation:

The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the Sixth amendment. Also, recently the Patriot Act has been and is being used to override people's Fifth Amendment rights if they are suspected of being a terrorist.

Question 16

Which of the following is not covered in one of the amendments to the Constitution?

A	The United States establishes a federal income tax. (1913)
B	Citizens of Puerto Rico are granted U.S. citizenship and the right to vote for President and Vice President. (1917)
C	The President is limited to no more than two terms. (1951)
D	The pay raises that Congress can give itself are limited. (1992)
E	Presidential electors are granted to the District of Columbia, in the Electoral College (1961.)

Question 16 Explanation:

In 1917 citizens of Puerto Rico did get U.S. citizenship, but they still have no representatives or senators in Congress, nor can they vote for the President and Vice President.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 16 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	End

Return

Structural Problems in Government

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz tests your understanding of structural problems in government and also structural problems in general. You can learn more about structural problems by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Structural Problems in Government.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Why are structural problems so important to understand and take action on?

A	Structural problems affect the political process in one or more of the following ways: they increase the cost of government; they make it take longer for government to produce solutions; they decrease the quality of the solutions.
B	Structural problems can affect almost all other political issues.
C	Structural problems are not as visible as other problems. They also don't usually generate the emotion for the problem to become visible and reach "critical mass" and be solved.
D	Structural problems can do damage for decades -- for as long as they are not fixed.
E	All of the above.

Question 2

Which one of the following is not a political structural problem?

A	Gerrymandering
B	Earmarks. (Pork)
C	Climate change
D	Corporate domination of elections through massive spending.

Question 3

Which one of these is not a political structural problems?

A	The overuse of the filibuster in the Senate.
B	Social Security eventually running out of money because of large number of baby boomers relative to younger generations.
C	Laws or machinery that prevent portions of the electorate from voting and having their votes count.
D	Fast track authority that minimize's Congress's power to have a check on the President's ability to make treaties binding on the United States

Question 3 Explanation:

The Social Security problem is an economic structural problem. It may affect the country but it doesn't directly affect the structure of the U.S. political process. // Also: some people may not consider Fast Track a structural problem but for the reason cited above we think it is.

Question 4

Which one of the following is not a political structural problem?

A	A large percentage of the electorate that is uninformed, easily manipulated and lacks thinking skills to make choices.
B	The fact that most members of Congress now spend a huge portion of their time in office trying to get re-elected, leaving much less time to think about and work on legislation.
C	Fracking which is changing the "structure" of the rivers that the fracking chemicals are put in, and which changes the structure of the country''s energy supply.
D	The Electoral College when it elects a president who received the second highest number of popular votes, rather than the candidate who received the most votes.

Question 5

Besides political structural problems, there are economic, environmental and social structural problems that affect the country. For instance, economic structural problems affect the efficiency of the economy. Which one of the following is primarily an economic structural problem?

A	Overpopulation and over-consumption of limited natural resources.
B	A decrease in quality journalism as newspapers are replaced by blogs and internet news sources. This can be harmful to the political process, since voters would have a harder time finding facts from authoritative sources.
C	Under-regulation of financial institutions and the financial instruments they create. (This led to the global financial crisis starting in 2009.)
D	Information overload and the stress that it causes people. When organizations send out their messages, it just adds to the load.

Question 5 Explanation:

Over-consumption of resources could lead to economic and social problems but we see this as mainly an environmental structural problem.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 5 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
End

Return

Elections, Voting and Parties

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will test your knowledge of the essentials of voting, elections and parties. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Elections, Voting and Parties.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Voter registration forms cannot usually be found at:

A	At post offices, because they are federal and forms are different in each state.
B	Online (just search on “voter registration forms” (for your state).
C	At various state agencies.
D	At county voter registration offices.

Question 2

Which of following is not always true about who can vote?

A	A person must be registered to vote.
B	A person must be a US citizen to vote.
C	A person who has committed a felony has lost the right to vote.
D	A person must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election to vote.

Question 2 Explanation:

It depends on the state. Most states restore the right to vote once prison ends, or once parole ends. Two states, Maine and Vermont allow prisoners to vote by absentee ballot.

Question 3

Of two presidential candidates, candidates A and B, what does it mean if presidential candidate A had 52% of the popular vote (the total number of votes cast in the country), but 269 votes in the Electoral College? (The other candidate, B, won 48% of the popular vote and 271 electors.)

A	It means candidate A won, since he or she had the most votes.
B	It means candidate A lost.

Question 4

Why do many people consider the Electoral College system unfair?

A	States with smaller populations have relatively more electors, since each state has an equal number of senators.
B	In all but two states, the winner gets ALL the electoral votes for that state, even if he or she only won 51% of the votes.
C	A presidential candidate can get the majority of the popular vote and still lose
D	All of the above.

Question 5

Which party is roughly described by the following:

Socially liberal and economically conservative. It tends to support strongly defended civil rights, free market economics, and a more isolationist foreign policy alongside free international trade.

A	Constitution Party
B	Green Party
C	Libertarian Party
D	Democratic Party
E	Republican Party

Question 6

Which party is roughly defined this way:

The party centers on social conservatism and free market economics. It argues that government should take a hands-off approach to the economy by reducing regulations and federal spending while lowering taxes.

A	Constitution Party
B	Green Party
C	Libertarian Party
D	Republican Party
E	Democratic Party

Question 7

Which party is roughly defined this way:

Emphasizes social justice, and a participatory democracy where corporate influence is wholly rejected by government. It advocates community-based economics, environmental sustainability, and nonviolence.

A	Constitution Party
B	Green Party
C	Libertarian Party
D	Republican Party
E	Democratic Party

Question 8

Which party is roughly defined this way:

This party argues against federal taxation and subsidization, all forms of government welfare, and social policies such as legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. It advocates free trade supplemented by heavy tariffs, noninterventionalism, and strict rules for immigration. It argues for a strict interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

A	Constitution Party
B	Green Party
C	Libertarian Party
D	Republican Party
E	Democratic Party

Question 9

Which party is roughly defined this way:

This party argues that government should take a proactive role in combating social injustice, environmental matters, and unregulated business. This party is currently marked largely by its focus on welfare, income equality, and an internationalist foreign policy that strives to be less interventionist.

A	Constitution Party
B	Green Party
C	Libertarian Party
D	Republican Party
E	Democratic Party

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 9 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	End

Return

Basic Economics for Politics

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will test your understanding of basic economic ideas. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Basic Economics for Politics.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What does GDP mean?

A	Government Debt Payout. The amount that the federal government pays out each year on its debt.
B	Gross Domestic Product. The total dollar amount of finished goods and services that a nation produces in a year. It equals consumer spending + business spending on capitol + government spending + exports minus imports.
C	Gross Domestic Product. The total amount of goods produced, not counting government spending.
D	Gross Domestic Product. Total amount of goods and services produced in a nation, not counting exports.

Question 2

Roughly what is the GDP of the United States?

A	$900 billion
B	$3.5 trillion
C	$15 trillion
D	$40 trillion

Question 2 Explanation:

Memory tip: If you know that the federal budget is about 3 trillion, and the tax rate is roughly 20%, you can guess that taxes are about 20% of GDP, so GDP is about five times the budget, or $15 trillion.

Question 3

What does "per capita" mean?

A	On average
B	At most
C	At least (the amount never goes below this number)
D	Per person

Question 4

How is inflation usually measured?

A	By tracking the GDP every quarter.
B	By tracking the CPI, the consumer price index.
C	By tracking the poverty rate.
D	By tracking the average tax rate.

Question 5

What is the U.S. federal deficit or "national debt" and about how much is it?

A	It's the amount that all other countries owe the United States, and it's about $60 trillion.
B	It's the total amount of debt of all individual Americans together owe banks and credit companies, and it's $6 trillion.
C	It's the total amount that the federal government owes and it's about $3 trillion.
D	It's the total amount that the federal government owes and it's about $17 trillion. (This includes about 5 trillion of intergovernmental holdings.)

Question 6

What is the U.S. federal budget and how big is it?

A	It's a document that the president submits to Congress that includes the total income and expenses of the federal government for the next fiscal year. It's about $300 billion.
B	It's a document that the president submits to Congress that includes the total income and expenses of the federal government for the next fiscal year. It's about $3.8 trillion in spending (and 2.9 trillion in income.)
C	It's the amount that Congress gives to the President each year to run all the different government agencies. It's about $20 trillion a year.
D	It's the amount that Congress gives the President to run the country for four years. It's about $80 trillion dollars.

Question 7

Common trends in leading economic indicators tell us that.. [Pick two]

A	When they drop significantly, there will usually be a recession three months later.
B	When they increase significantly, this usually indicates the end of a recession in three months.
C	When they increase significantly, there will usually be a recession three months later.
D	Really nothing about the future about the economy.

Question 7 Explanation:

Leading economic indicators are like the “canary in the coal mine.” They usually indicate the state of the economy in the near future.

Question 8

U.S. consumers spend roughly ____% of those of the money spent in the U.S. economy in any given time period.

A	50%
B	60%
C	70%
D	80%

Question 8 Explanation:

While governments and businesses contribute a significant amount of spending in the economy, consumers provide the largest percentage at 70%. This is why the Consumer Confidence Index is such an important statistic.

Question 9

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is...

A	An index of the cost of agricultural goods, usually indicative of the cost of food.
B	An estimation of the cost consumers are willing to pay for certain goods.
C	The measure of the cost of a set of goods that most people commonly buy.
D	The measurement of luxury or non-essential consumer goods purchased, such as televisions, vacations, luxury cars, etc. – an indicator of how much money consumers are able to spend beyond necessities.

Question 9 Explanation:

The CPI measures the approximate cost of living – how much each citizen needs to spend to live at a reasonable quality of life.

Question 10

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is ...

A	A measurement of how confident consumers are in the products they buy -- especially the product's durability.
B	A monthly survey of people's confidence in the stock market over the next six months.
C	A scientific survey of people's confidence in the economy that comes out monthly.
D	A monthly survey of people's self-confidence. When people's self-esteem is high, they tend to buy more goods, thus stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

Question 10 Explanation:

The consumer confidence index is an extremely important economic indicator since the consumer comprises the majority of the economy's spending. It is one of the Leading Economic Indicators.

Question 11

Which of the following is the likely impact of lower employment rates?

A	Less employment → Less need to maintain or build infrastructure → Government is not required to collect as much taxes.
B	Less employment → Less Taxes → Government can no longer invest in maintaining or building the country's quality of life.
C	Less employment → More Taxes → Government invests those extra taxes into maintaining and building the countries quality of life

Question 11 Explanation:

An unfortunate consequence of lower employment rates is that the government is unable to collect income taxes from those individuals. (It also must partially support those people through food stamps and unemployment.) Fewer people paying taxes means that the government cannot invest as much money into building infrastructure (roads, bridges, public health, etc.) In general, the government must either increase taxes, or cut government jobs.

Question 12

To stimulate the economy, which tools does the federal government normally use? [Pick two]

A	State policy: Requiring the 50 states to meet production and employment quotas before dispensing funds (for education, agriculture, food stamps, etc.)
B	International trade policy: Cutting export taxes to stimulate buying from consumers in other countries.
C	Monetary policy: Planning changes in the money supply and interest rates.
D	Fiscal policy: Making changes to the government’s own budget (lower taxes and higher spending)
E	Military policy: Starting a war to stimulate spending and fuel consumption.

Question 13

Through fiscal policy, what are two ways the government can stimulate the economy? [Pick two.]

A	Lower government spending – (Such as reducing infrastructure spending and lowering the number of government employees)
B	Lowering taxes, giving people more money to keep and spend.
C	Increasing taxes, giving the government more money to inject into the economy
D	Increasing government spending which creates jobs and puts money in people's pockets – (Incidentally, this can cause the government to increase its debt.)

Question 13 Explanation:

Since consumers comprise 70% of the market, allowing consumers to keep and spend more money and increasing government spending (in the form of creating jobs for infrastructure building, etc) can help to stimulate the economy.

Question 14

What are the three main tools of monetary policy? [Pick three]

A	Changing the money supply by printing more money (or destroying more money.)
B	Changing the Discount Rate, the interest rate that banks charge each other
C	Increasing or decreasing the corporate tax rate. A lower tax rate leads to greater investment and money flow.
D	Changing the Reserve Requirement, the percentage of money that banks are required to hold in reserve.
E	Increasing or decreasing Open Market Transactions, buy buying or selling U.S. government bonds.

Question 15

What is the "Fed," or the" Federal Reserve?"

A	The money the federal government keeps in reserve in Ft. Knox.
B	A group of 12 commercial banks whose board of governors decides monetary policy for the U.S. government.
C	A part of the US government within the Department of the Treasury.
D	A division of the IMF, the International Monetary Fund.

Question 16

Name one thing the Fed (Federal Reserve) does not do?

A	Set the Reserve Requirement
B	Conduct open market transactions, by buying or selling U.S. bonds
C	Set the Discount Rate, the interest rate banks changer each other.
D	Plan the fiscal policy for the coming year.

Question 17

What four main factors affect long term economic growth?

A	Population rates; government tax rates; business interest rates; currency rates.
B	Average physical health of workers; mental health of workers; quality of infrastructure; business tax rates.
C	Natural resources; human resources; capital; technology.
D	Fiscal policy; monetary policy; international trade agreements; consumer confidence.

Question 17 Explanation:

Think in terms of the fundamentals and the big picture: To make more products, you need: natural resources, people with skills, capital (equipment and money) and technology.

Question 18

The Unemployment Rate released by the U.S. government monthly is:

A	The rate of unemployed people in the number of people over age 16 who have lost their jobs or are actively seeking employment in the last month as a percentage of the total workforce.
B	The number of people who unemployed, underemployed, or have given up seeking employment.
C	The ratio of unemployed people to fully employed people in the country in the past month.
D	None of the above.

Question 18 Explanation:

One reason why the unemployment rates are not always an accurate metric of economic hardship is because it does not include those who are underemployed or have given up seeking employment.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 18 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	End

Return

Economics -- Special Topics

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz tests your understanding of four important issues: Economic growth, the federal deficit, inflation and Social Security. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed

Economics -- Special Topics

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Imagine that three politicians are campaigning on a platform to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Which of the three should you vote for, other things being equal?

A	This candidate wants to invest 20 billion dollars in a public works project to repair roads and bridges.
B	This candidate wants to invest 15 billion dollars in various promising technologies in development, and 5 billion in tech education.
C	This candidate wants to give away 20 billion dollars of pollution credits. Thus the government doesn't have to take anything from the Treasury and industry is stimulated because the 20 billion saved can be used elsewhere. But air, water and soil pollution increases for the year.

Question 1 Explanation:

We say B because technology is a powerful driving force for long-term economic growth. Roads and bridges, though badly needed would probably not yield the same long-term economic growth. Money saved by industry might be given to stockholders, or sent to overseas investment, while pollution may do much more damage to people's health, increasing costs.

Question 2

Three more candidates are campaigning on an economic growth platform. Which of the three would likely stimulate the economy the most, while decreasing negative side-effects as well?

A	This candidate emphasizes service center and nonprofit job creation; green jobs; and tax credits for conversion to green energy by businesses and consumers.
B	This candidate emphasizes increasing immigration so as to build the workforce and the number of consumers in the country. This policy would have benefits of increasing payments into Social Security.
C	This candidate emphasizes decreasing taxes on corporations so as to stimulate investment.

Question 2 Explanation:

Service sector jobs and green industry would likely increase job production while minimizing bad side effects such as pollution. More workers without more jobs would just depress wages. Again, lowering taxes may not increase investment.

Question 3

How urgent and how much of a political priority is the 16 trillion dollar national debt, a debt that is about $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the country?

A	Not a problem at all. Deficit spending stimulates the economy. If the government spent less, less jobs would be created.
B	A concern, but not a top priority. Debt that leads to investment can be healthy. Besides, China and other nations can't "call in our debt" and even if they could, they probably wouldn't because nations are so interdependent.
C	It's one of the greatest threats to the economic survival of the country and every citizen's economic future.

Question 3 Explanation:

While too much more debt will lead to a downgrade of the government's credit rating, it's still considered a safe haven for investment, relative to many other investments.

Question 4

What kind of deficit spending is considered good or sensible?

A	No deficit spending is good.
B	Deficit spending that's backed dollar for dollar by what the federal government has in the Treasury.
C	Deficit spending that leads to investments that produce economic growth.

Question 5

What's the main cause of inflation?

A	An increase in the money supply, relative to production of goods and services. For example, if suddenly there was twice as much money in people's pockets, demand would increase, leading to higher prices since the amount of production and goods didn't increase.
B	Manufacturers that charge more for products and give you less for the same price. That drives up the cost of living.
C	Planned obsolescence. In other words, things don't last as long, and so you have to buy more stuff.

Question 6

How serious is it if the US inflation rate stays at 4% for ten years?

A	It's just an annoyance.
B	It's not a major problem for the economy, but if you are on a fixed income it becomes a problem.
C	It will do major economic harm to the US economy, and drastically affect all but the very wealthy.

Question 6 Explanation:

Inflation rates of 10% become a problem for the economy, but someone on a fixed income will have less than half of the buying power they had at the end of ten years. Thing will cost more than twice as much.

Question 7

What is the main cause of the expected problems with Social Security?

A	Politicians failing to address the problem over the last 30 years when they knew it was coming.
B	An "bubble" in the population, the large number of baby boomers born in the 50's.
C	Globalization. Jobs going overseas decreases the jobs here, which decrease payments into Social Security over many years.

Question 8

Tongue-in-cheek bonus question: Who is most to blame for the coming problems with Social Security?

A	Politicians. It's always the politicians!
B	Generation X
C	Baby boomers
D	The Greatest Generation (Those who fought in WWII or lived then.)
E	Millennials. (Generation Y)

Question 8 Explanation:

They're the ones who had all those boomer kids!

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 8 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	End

Return

State Government

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz will test your knowledge of state government and some commonly used terms in state government. You can learn more by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed State Government.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

In the context of state governments, what is casework?

A	Researching a particular bill before proposing it.
B	A legal case conducted by the state senate.
C	Taking care of constituents’ problems or “errand-running” for particular citizens done by state senate or house members.
D	Determining the impact of certain grants awarded to the state.

Question 2

What are Amendatory or conditional vetoes?

A	The citizen’s ability to veto laws signed in by the state congress
B	They are the governor’s only leverage for weighing in on U.S. constitutional amendments.
C	These are the powers by the governor to send a bill back to the legislature with suggested changes.

Question 3

"Requirements set by the national government to force states to perform a particular action or program" is the definition of...

A	Amendatory veto
B	Line-item veto
C	Inherent powers
D	Mandate

Question 4

Why are implied powers sometimes a topic of contention between state and federal governments?

A	The federal government has never fully acknowledged the existence of implied powers
B	They allow the governor exemptions from certain federal tax laws
C	It is sometimes hard to know which issues fall to the state or are under the explicit jurisdiction of the federal government
D	None of the above

Question 5

Which of the following are true about sunset legislation?

A	These are a type of legislation that has a specific expiration or renewal date.
B	Sunset legislation can persuade legislators who are “on the fence” since legislators are more likely to vote for it because of its temporary nature.
C	Sunset legislation is good for Issues that change rapidly (e.g., technology-related issues), since details pertaining to these issues must be updated periodically.
D	All of the above.

Question 6

__________ is a vote that requires a number greater than the majority, usually 2/3 or 3/4, to pass.

[Pay attention to the precise wording.]

A	Filibuster
B	Supermajority
C	Veto

Question 6 Explanation:

Vetoes and filibusters require a 2/3m majority to either override or stop, so they require the supermajority vote. The supermajority is the name of quantity required.

Question 7

_____________ are a form of direct voting in which citizens can bypass the legislature and pass laws or amend their state constitution.

A	Recall elections
B	Referendum
C	Initiatives
D	Authorized petition

Question 7 Explanation:

Referendums are similar, but they are direct votes by citizens on legislation proposed by the legislature. They usually start with a petition get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Question 8

True or false: Citizens always have the power to remove misbehaving state officials from office.

A	True
B	False

Question 8 Explanation:

But in 19 states citizens DO have recall powers at the state level.

Question 9

At the state level, the Lieutenant Governor is similar to the Vice President at the federal level. Which of the following is true?

A	Succeeds the Governor if he or she dies in office.
B	Is an elected official (like the Vice President)
C	Presides over the state senate.
D	All of the above.

Question 10

________________ is the power of a governor to veto particular items in bills concerning the state’s budget.

A	Line-item veto
B	Budget-item veto
C	Governor's veto

Question 11

What is the approximate breakdown of funding of education?

A	Elementary and secondary schools receive about 70% from the federal government, 20% from state governments and 10% from local governments.
B	Elementary and secondary schools receive about 8% from the federal government, 50% from state governments and 42% from local governments.
C	Elementary and secondary schools receive about 45% from the federal government,10% from state governments and 45% from local governments.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 11 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	End

Return

Local Government

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz asks you five questions about local government. You can learn more about local government by going here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Local Government.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

What is the level of government below the state level?

A	(Federal) House districts
B	Municipalities
C	County or county equivalents
D	Special districts

Question 2

Townships or towns are the level of government beneath county government, as stated in the constitutions of 20 states. If you find yourself in a township, what part of the country are you probably in?

A	The South
B	New England or the Mid-West
C	In the West

Question 3

What is the name of the Supreme Court ruling that states that municipal governments have no power except what is granted to them by their states?

A	Home rule
B	Dillon's Rule
C	The Marshall Doctrine

Question 4

Many special districts and layers of local government can exist in the same geographical, such as school districts, water authorities, fire protection, harbor districts, conservation districts. Since they often affect each other, they, along with municipalities, counties and towns often form “regional councils of governments,” “metropolitan regional councils,” or “associations of governments.” Is it true or false that these regional councils have formal decision-making powers?

A	True
B	False

Question 4 Explanation:

They often form for the sake of mutual communication and to debate proposals that affect the region or local area.

Question 5

True or false: If there is a local issue of great concern to you, and you have special information about a decision being made, it's best to find out when the decision is being made, and go to that meeting to provide your information.

A	True
B	False

Question 5 Explanation:

This is a trick question. Sure, you should probably go to the meeting when the decision is being made, but often you need to communicate your special information, BEFORE the decision comes up for a vote. For example, if the town is deciding between two companies selling fire trucks, and you know about fire trucks or know that one company is doing something illegal, you should provide the information soon enough so they can check into it. If you go to the meeting to share your information, they don't have time to check. Your influence will be less.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 5 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
End

Return

Federal Budget and Budget Process

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This quiz asks you seven questions about the Federal Budget. To learn more about the budget, go here.

Start

Congratulations - you have completed Federal Budget and Budget Process.

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

The annual spending of the federal government is currently about how many trillion?

A	$3 trillion
B	$4r trillion
C	$12 trillion
D	$16.7 trillion

Question 1 Explanation:

FYI, the national debt, the total owed, is about 12 trillion, not counting debt between different parts of the US government. Adding inter-governmental debt would make it 16.7 trillion.

Question 2

The U.S. government's fiscal year (budget year) begins in what month?

A	January
B	April
C	July
D	October

Question 2 Explanation:

It begins October 1st of each year.

Question 3

True or false: When the President sends his official budget request to Congress, it's only a plan for spending and for generating income. It does not include the state of the Treasury, in other words how much money the government has. Those numbers are in his annual Treasury report.

A	True
B	False

Question 3 Explanation:

The reports of how much money the Treasury had and is projected to have if the budget is followed are part of the official Budget of the U.S. Government.

Question 4

What's "discretionary spending" mean?

A	That's the money that the President can spend any way he wants (within reason) without Congressional approval.
B	That's the money that must be spent on entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.
C	That's the spending that must be authorized each year, that's NOT spent on entitlements.

Question 5

What's "mandatory spending" mean?

A	All essential spending, for instance on defense, public safety and public health.
B	Spending that doesn't require annual authorization. It's usually for entitlement programs that people depend on.
C	Money that pays the salaries of all government workers.

Question 6

What is the sequester?

A	Across-the-board cuts of 7% to all federally funded programs for one year.
B	Across-the-board cuts of 7% to all federally funded programs for eight years, if the government can't create a better plan to reduce spending.
C	Across-the-board cuts of about 5.5 to 10% to certain federal programs for one year, if the government can't create a better plan to reduce spending.
D	Across-the-board cuts of about 5.5 to 10% to certain federal programs for eight years, if the government can't create a better plan to reduce spending.

Question 7

What is the general process and timeline for the creation of the budget?

A	The president and advisers begin in February of each year. They get a budget to Congress around the end of the year. Congress starts with committees in the Senate and House, leading to floor votes, a conference report process between both chambers of congress. Then appropriations are made based on the budget plan, hopefully before October.
B	Same as above but it's not stretched out over almost two years, but happens in seven months from February to October.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 7 questions to complete.

←

List

→

Return

Shaded items are complete.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	End

Return

Proof Through The Night

There's more than one way to fight for your country.

Legislative Branch

How a Bill Becomes Law

Executive Branch Quiz

Judicial Branch Quiz

Who's Who in Government?

Key Documents and Principles

Structural Problems in Government

Elections, Voting and Parties

Basic Economics for Politics

Economics -- Special Topics

State Government

Local Government

Federal Budget and Budget Process

Leave a Reply Cancel reply