US Legislative Branch Test Practice

1. Structure and Membership

  1. The legislative branch of the US government is established by which article of the US Constitution? a) Article I b) Article II c) Article III d) Article IV

  2. The US Congress is bicameral, meaning it has: a) Two main political parties. b) Two houses or chambers. c) A term limit of two years. d) Two separate court systems.

  3. The House of Representatives currently has how many voting members? a) 50 b) 100 c) 435 d) 535

  4. How is representation determined in the House of Representatives? a) Equal representation for all states. b) Based on the population of each state. c) Based on the geographic size of each state. d) Based on the number of counties in each state.

  5. How many senators does each state have? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Varies by population

  6. Which house of Congress has a shorter term length? a) The Senate b) The House of Representatives c) Both have the same term length d) The term lengths are determined by the President

2. Powers and Responsibilities

  1. The primary function of the Legislative Branch is to: a) Enforce the laws. b) Interpret the laws. c) Make the laws. d) Appoint federal judges.

  2. Which of the following is an expressed power of Congress? a) Declaring war. b) Establishing the cabinet. c) Negotiating treaties. d) Vetoing legislation.

  3. The power to raise, borrow, and coin money belongs to which branch of government? a) Executive b) Judicial c) Legislative d) State Governments

  4. Which house of Congress has the sole power to approve (ratify) treaties? a) The House of Representatives b) The Senate c) Both houses must approve equally d) The power belongs to the Supreme Court

  5. Which house of Congress has the power to impeach (bring charges against) a federal official? a) The House of Representatives b) The Senate c) Both houses must agree d) The power belongs to the President

  6. Which house of Congress conducts the trial following an impeachment? a) The House of Representatives b) The Senate c) The Supreme Court d) The Cabinet

  7. The "Necessary and Proper Clause" (also known as the Elastic Clause) allows Congress to: a) Only use powers explicitly listed in the Constitution. b) Create laws that are not directly listed but are needed to execute its expressed powers. c) Overrule the President's veto. d) Interpret the Constitution however it sees fit.

3. The Lawmaking Process

  1. Where do most bills die in the lawmaking process? a) On the floor of the House or Senate. b) In the President's desk. c) In a Congressional committee. d) When they are debated by the public.

  2. If the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, what type of committee is usually formed to reconcile the differences? a) Standing Committee b) Select Committee c) Conference Committee d) Joint Committee

  3. A measure that temporarily stalls action on a bill in the Senate by allowing a single senator to speak indefinitely is called a: a) Cloture b) Filibuster c) Quorum d) Franking

  4. To end a filibuster in the Senate, how many senators must vote for cloture? a) A simple majority (51) b) Three-fifths (60) c) Two-thirds (67) d) All 100 senators

  5. After a bill passes both the House and the Senate in identical form, what is the next step before it can become law? a) It goes directly to the Supreme Court for review. b) It is sent to the President for a signature or veto. c) It is sent to the states for ratification. d) It goes back to committee for a final check.

  6. If the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill: a) Is automatically vetoed. b) Becomes law without the President's signature. c) Is automatically returned to the originating chamber. d) Becomes a pocket veto.

  7. A pocket veto can only occur when: a) The bill is less than 10 pages long. b) The President disapproves of the bill. c) Congress adjourns within the 10-day period. d) The bill is about budgetary matters.

  8. What majority is required in both the House and the Senate to override a presidential veto? a) Simple majority (51%+) b) Two-thirds majority c) Three-fourths majority d) Unanimous consent

4. Leadership and Roles

  1. Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the most powerful position in Congress? a) The Vice President of the US b) The President Pro Tempore c) The Speaker of the House d) The Majority Leader

  2. Who is the presiding officer of the Senate, according to the Constitution? a) The Speaker of the House b) The President Pro Tempore c) The Majority Leader d) The Vice President of the US

  3. What are legislative officials who assist the party leaders in counting votes and ensuring member attendance called? a) Clerks b) Whips c) Sergeants at Arms d) Pages

  4. The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an electoral advantage is called: a) Reapportionment b) Cloture c) Gerrymandering d) Enumeration

Answer Key

  1. a) Article I

  2. b) Two houses or chambers.

  3. c) 435

  4. b) Based on the population of each state.

  5. b) Two

  6. b) The House of Representatives (2-year term vs. Senate's 6-year term)

  7. c) Make the laws.

  8. a) Declaring war.

  9. c) Legislative

  10. b) The Senate

  11. a) The House of Representatives

  12. b) The Senate

  13. b) Create laws that are not directly listed but are needed to execute its expressed powers.

  14. c) In a Congressional committee.

  15. c) Conference Committee

  16. b) Filibuster

  17. b) Three-fifths (60)

  18. b) It is sent to the President for a signature or veto.

  19. b) Becomes law without the President's signature.

  20. c) Congress adjourns within the 10-day period.

  21. b) Two-thirds majority

  22. c) The Speaker of the House

  23. d) The Vice President of the US

  24. b) Whips

  25. c) Gerrymandering