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The branches and Congress: civics questions 13⁠–⁠23 with answers

From the 2008 civics test (100 questions). Read each question, the official answers and why. Press Listen to hear the question and the answer.

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13. Name one branch or part of the government.⁠★ 65/20

Official answers:

  • Congress
  • legislative
  • President
  • executive
  • the courts
  • judicial

Why? There are three branches: Congress (legislative), the President (executive) and the courts (judicial).

  • branch: one part of the government

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Official answers:

  • checks and balances
  • separation of powers

Why? Each branch can limit the other two. So no branch gets too much power.

  • branch: one part of the government

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Official answer:

  • the President

Why? The President leads the executive branch. This branch makes sure people follow the laws.

  • executive: the part of government that carries out laws

16. Who makes federal laws?

Official answers:

  • Congress
  • Senate and House (of Representatives)
  • (U.S. or national) legislature

Why? Congress writes and votes on federal laws. Then the President signs them.

  • federal: about the national government, not a state

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?⁠★ 65/20

Official answer:

  • the Senate and House (of Representatives)

Why? Congress has two parts. A bill must pass both the Senate and the House.

18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

Official answer:

  • one hundred (100)

Why? Every state has two senators. There are 50 states, so 2 × 50 = 100.

  • senator: a member of the Senate

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

Official answer:

  • six (6)

Why? Senators serve the longest terms in Congress. Representatives serve two years and Presidents four.

  • senator: a member of the Senate

20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?⁠★ 65/20

Say the name of one of your state’s two U.S. senators. Find them at senate.gov. In D.C. or a U.S. territory, say there are no U.S. senators.

21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Official answer:

  • four hundred thirty-five (435)

Why? Each member speaks for one area of a state. States with more people have more members.

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

Official answer:

  • two (2)

Why? Every two years, voters choose all members of the House again.

  • representative: a member of the House of Representatives

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

Say the name of your U.S. representative. Find them at house.gov. In a territory, you can name your Delegate or Resident Commissioner, or say there is no voting representative.

More practice

Take a civics practice test · 65/20 questions · 128 questions of the 2025 test

The real test is oral: the officer asks, and you answer out loud. Read each answer above out loud two or three times.

Next, practice the English of your interview: citizenship interview questions.