MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUIZ THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT

1) The primary function of the Legislative Branch of government is

a. To write laws
b. Investigate criminal activity
c. Conduct governmental inquiries
d. Oversee Executive Branch actions

2) Congress is comprised of how many law-making bodies?

a. One
b. Two
c. Three
d. Four

3) Members of the House are elected to what length of term?

a. Two years
b. Four years
c. Six years
d. Eight years

4) Senators are elected to what length of term?

a. Two years
b. Four years
c. Six years
d. Eight years

5) There are how many members of the House of Representatives?

a. 400
b. 435
c. 453
d. 345

6) There are how many Senators?

a. 50, one for each state
b. 100, two for each state
c. 150, three for each state
d. 200, four for each state

7) The most sparsely populated states, such as Alaska, have how many
representatives in the House?
a. One
b. Two
c. Three
d. Four

8) The cornerstone of the United States Capitol was laid by

a. John Hancock
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. George Washington
d. Benjamin Franklin

9) Newly elected House of Representative members convene for their terms in

office
a. The first Tuesday of March in each even-numbered year
b. The first Tuesday of March in each odd-numbered year
c. The 3rd of January in each even-numbered year
d. The 3rd of January in each odd-numbered year
10)The seat of government, during the presidency of George Washington, was
originally located in
a. Philadelphia
b. New York
c. Boston
d. Annapolis
11)The majority party in the House chooses a leader. This persons title is
a. Majority whip
b. Speaker of the Congress
c. Speaker of the House
d. President Pro-Tempore

12)The President of the Senate is

a. Elected by the majority party
b. Elected by bipartisan popular vote in the Senate
c. Elected by the Electoral College
d. Elected in a joint session of Congress

13)Prior to the seat of government moving to Washington D.C., it was located for ten years in
a. Philadelphia
b. New York
c. Boston
d. Virginia

14)If impeachment of a president is necessary...

a. The Senate brings the charges, and the House sits in judgment
b. Congress brings the charges, and the Supreme Court sits in judgment
c. The House brings the charges, and the Supreme Court sits in judgment
d. The House brings the charges, and the Senate sits in judgment

15)Congress may override a presidential veto of a law...

a. With a majority vote in each house
b. With a two-thirds vote in each house
c. With a three-fourths vote in each house
d. With a four-fifths vote in each house

16)What is the chief characteristic of standing committees?

a. They continue from Congress to Congress
b. They contain members of the House and Senate
c. They are temporary
d. They deal only with financial matters

17)If the Supreme Court finds a law passed by Congress and signed by the president
unconstitutional, what action may Congress take?
a. Override the Supreme Courts decision with a two-thirds vote
b. Appeal to the president to convert the law to an Executive Order
c. Enact statutes that meet the courts objections.
d. Amend the Constitution to remove court objections

18)Lobbyists or special interest groups...

a. Promote the causes of special-interest groups
b. Provide members of Congress with information on pending legislation
c. Promote laws that will benefit their employers
d. All of the above

19)What is the function of the House Rules Committee?

a. It sets the parameters of floor debate for a bill
b. It sets the rules for Senate debate
c. It vetos frivolous bills
d. All of the above

20)A quorum in Congress is

a. Two-thirds of the membership in each house
b. One-half of the membership in each house
c. One more than one-half of the membership in each house
d. One more than two-thirds of the membership in each house