U.S. Citizenship Civics Test · Civics (American Government, History, Symbols and Holidays)
Written by AI · Not yet reviewed by staffU.S. Citizenship Civics Test Congress (Legislative Branch) Summary
- Importance
- ★★★★★ (5 / 5)
- Weight
- About 3 of 20 Civics (American Government, History, Symbols and Holidays) questions (15%)
The three branches, the two parts of Congress, the number and terms of senators and representatives, who they represent, and who elects them (official questions 16-35).
📖 See Congress (Legislative Branch) concepts →Congress (Legislative Branch): must-know points
- Congress (the legislative branch) writes laws and has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- There are 100 senators (two from each state) who serve six-year terms.
- There are 435 voting members of the House, who serve two-year terms.
Congress (Legislative Branch): 10 sample questions
Question 1. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
- ① Vetoes bills
- ② Issues driver’s licenses
- ③ Serves as Commander in Chief
- ④ Declares war
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ Declares war
Key point: Congress writes laws, declares war, makes budget
Congress declares war.
Other answers USCIS accepts: Writes laws, Makes the federal budget.
Wrong choices
- Vetoes bills: Vetoing bills is a power of the President.
- Serves as Commander in Chief: The President is Commander in Chief of the military.
- Issues driver’s licenses: States give driver's licenses, not Congress.
Question 2. Name the three branches of government.
- ① Army, Navy, and Air Force
- ② Senate, House, and Cabinet
- ③ Federal, state, and local
- ④ Legislative, executive, and judicial
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ Legislative, executive, and judicial
Key point: Three branches: legislative, executive, judicial
The three branches are legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch makes laws, the executive enforces them, and the judicial explains them.
Other answer USCIS accepts: Congress, president, and the courts.
Wrong choices
- Federal, state, and local: These are levels of government, not the three branches.
- Senate, House, and Cabinet: The Senate and House are both in Congress. The Cabinet is in the executive branch.
- Army, Navy, and Air Force: These are parts of the military.
Question 3. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
- ① Legislative branch
- ② Judicial branch
- ③ Military branch
- ④ Executive branch
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ Executive branch
Key point: The President leads the executive branch
The President is in charge of the executive branch. This branch carries out and enforces laws.
Wrong choices
- Legislative branch: That is Congress, which writes laws.
- Judicial branch: That is the courts.
- Military branch: There is no "military branch" of government. The President commands the military as part of the executive branch.
Question 4. What part of the federal government writes laws?
- ① Supreme Court
- ② The President's Cabinet
- ③ U.S. Congress
- ④ State governors
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ U.S. Congress
Key point: Congress (legislative branch) writes laws
The U.S. Congress writes federal laws.
Other answers USCIS accepts: (U.S. or national) legislature, Legislative branch.
Wrong choices
- Supreme Court: The Supreme Court explains laws. It does not write them.
- The President's Cabinet: The Cabinet advises the President. It does not write laws.
- State governors: Governors lead states. They do not write federal laws.
Question 5. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- ① House of Lords and House of Commons
- ② Senate and House of Representatives
- ③ Senate and Supreme Court
- ④ House of Representatives and Cabinet
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② Senate and House of Representatives
Key point: Congress = Senate + House of Representatives
The two parts of Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Wrong choices
- Senate and Supreme Court: The Supreme Court is in the judicial branch, not Congress.
- House of Representatives and Cabinet: The Cabinet is in the executive branch, not Congress.
- House of Lords and House of Commons: These are parts of the British Parliament.
Question 6. How many U.S. senators are there?
- ① Four hundred thirty-five (435)
- ② Fifty (50)
- ③ Two hundred (200)
- ④ One hundred (100)
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ One hundred (100)
Key point: 100 senators (2 per state)
There are 100 U.S. senators. Each of the 50 states has two.
Wrong choices
- Four hundred thirty-five (435): 435 is the number of voting members of the House.
- Fifty (50): There are 50 states, but each state has two senators.
- Two hundred (200): There are two senators for each of 50 states, so 100.
Question 7. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
- ① Six (6) years
- ② Three (3) years
- ③ Two (2) years
- ④ Four (4) years
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ Two (2) years
Key point: Representative term = 2 years
A member of the House of Representatives serves a two-year term.
Wrong choices
- Four (4) years: Four years is the President's term.
- Six (6) years: Six years is a senator's term.
- Three (3) years: House members serve two-year terms.
Question 8. How many senators does each state have?
- ① Four (4)
- ② One (1)
- ③ Two (2)
- ④ It depends on the state's population
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ Two (2)
Key point: Every state has 2 senators
Each state has two senators, no matter how many people live there.
Wrong choices
- One (1): Each state has two senators.
- Four (4): Each state has two senators, no more.
- It depends on the state's population: That is true for the House. In the Senate, every state has two.
Question 9. How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
- ① Four (4) years
- ② Two (2) years
- ③ Eight (8) years
- ④ Six (6) years
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ④ Six (6) years
Key point: Senator term = 6 years
A U.S. senator is elected for six years. There is no limit on how many times a senator can be reelected.
Wrong choices
- Four (4) years: Four years is the term for the President.
- Two (2) years: Two years is the term for a member of the House.
- Eight (8) years: A senator's term is six years.
Question 10. Who does a U.S. senator represent?
- ① People of their state
- ② People of their congressional district
- ③ The governor of their state
- ④ Only members of their political party
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ① People of their state
Key point: A senator represents the people of their state
A U.S. senator represents the people of their state.
Other answer USCIS accepts: Citizens of their state.
Wrong choices
- People of their congressional district: A House member represents a district. A senator represents the whole state.
- Only members of their political party: Senators represent everyone in their state.
- The governor of their state: Senators represent the people, not the governor.
Test yourself.