The Constitution splits the power of the federal government among three branches so that no single person or group can control everything. Article I sets up the legislative branch, Congress, which makes the laws. Article II creates the executive branch, led by the president, which carries out and enforces those laws. Article III establishes the judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, which interprets the laws and decides whether they fit the Constitution. This idea is called separation of powers.
Separation alone is not enough, so the framers also built in checks and balances. The president can veto a bill, but Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. The Senate confirms judges the president nominates, and the courts can strike down laws or actions that break the Constitution. This quiz covers the structure of each branch, the numbers students are expected to know (100 senators, 435 voting representatives, 9 justices) and the ways each branch limits the others. Try each question before checking, then read the explanation to see why the answer is right.
Choose an option or type your answer, then press Check. Capital letters and extra spaces do not matter in typed answers, and units are optional.
Answer: B) Legislative
The legislative branch, Congress, writes and passes bills. A bill becomes law when the president signs it or when Congress overrides a veto.
Answer: 100 (also accepted: one hundred)
Each of the 50 states elects 2 senators, so there are 50 x 2 = 100 senators.
Answer: 435 (also accepted: four hundred thirty-five)
The number of voting representatives has been fixed by law at 435 since 1913. The seats are divided among the states by population after each census.
Answer: C) Article II
Article II describes the office of the president, how the president is chosen and the powers of the office.
Answer: A) Interpreting laws and deciding if they follow the Constitution
Federal courts decide cases and interpret what laws mean. The power to strike down unconstitutional laws is called judicial review.
Answer: 2 (also accepted: two, 2 years, two years)
Representatives face election every 2 years, which keeps the House closely tied to public opinion.
Answer: D) 6 years
Senators serve 6-year terms. About one third of the Senate is up for election every 2 years, so the whole chamber never changes at once.
Answer: veto (also accepted: a veto, the veto)
A veto sends the bill back to Congress unsigned. It is one of the main checks the executive branch has on the legislative branch.
Answer: B) A two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate
An override needs two-thirds of the members voting in each chamber. Because that is hard to reach, most vetoes are not overridden.
Answer: 9 (also accepted: nine)
The Supreme Court has one chief justice and eight associate justices, 9 in total. The number is set by Congress and has been 9 since 1869.
Answer: C) Confirming or rejecting the president's nominees for federal judges
The Senate must approve many presidential appointments, including federal judges and cabinet members. Rejecting a nominee limits presidential power.
Answer: separation of powers (also accepted: the separation of powers)
Separation of powers stops one group from holding all power. Checks and balances then let each branch limit the others.
Answer: D) The president
The president heads the executive branch, with help from the vice president, the cabinet and federal agencies.
Answer: 4 (also accepted: four, 4 years, four years)
A president is elected for 4 years. The 22nd Amendment limits a president to two elected terms.
Remember the verbs: the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces them and the judicial branch interprets them.
The president can propose ideas and sign or veto bills, but only Congress can pass a bill. Executive orders direct how existing law is carried out; they are not new laws passed by Congress.
Representatives serve 2 years, senators 6 years and the president 4 years. Federal judges serve during good behavior, which in practice usually means for life.
A two-thirds vote in only the House or only the Senate is not enough. Both chambers must each reach two-thirds.
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Open the student portal βArticle I creates Congress (legislative), Article II creates the presidency (executive) and Article III creates the federal courts (judicial).
Seats in the House are shared out by state population, while every state gets exactly two senators no matter its size. This was part of the Great Compromise of 1787.