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Civics 101: System of American Government

The four pages of the US Constitution are laid over an image of the pillars and carving on the National Archives building

National Archives/ Library of Congress

Welcome to the Civics 101 Trivia Game!

Who has the most knowledge of American Civics? Test your knowledge or form teams with your friends and keep score. This section has questions about the system of American government. Have fun and good luck!

Three images in a black frame, from left to right: the White House, the Capitol building, and the Senate building

Library of Congress/ NPS

Senators seated in the Senate chamber. Dark wood desks form a semi-circle around the room Senators seated in the Senate chamber. Dark wood desks form a semi-circle around the room

Left image
Credit: Architect of the Capitol

Right image
Credit: Library of Congress

The U.S. Capitol building on a bright day. Cherry trees in bloom at the foreground

Library of Congress / Carol Highsmith

Write laws

Declare war

Make the federal budget
Lithograph of the old Senate chamber, a semi-circle of empty desks and chairs

Library of Congress

The Capitol Building with bright flowers in the foreground

Library of Congress / Carol Highsmith

Map of the United States from the Senate website; lookup feature for Senators
Visit the U.S. Senate's website to use this interactive map to learn more about your senators.

U.S. Senate website

Visit the Senate.gov States Map to view each state's senators and check your answer with the interactive map.
White dome of the Capitol building with statue on top set against a blue sky

Library of Congress / Carol Highsmith

Old photograph of the empty House of Representatives chamber, a semicircle of desks in the room
House of Representatives chamber, 1900

Library of Congress

Website capture of the directory for the House of Representatives to look up representatives by name or state
Find your congressional representative with this directory on the House of Representatives website.

House of Representatives

Visit the Representatives.gov Directory to view each state's representatives and check your answer.
Statue of Franklin Delano Roosevelt seated in a wheelchair outdoors at the FDR Memorial.

NPS / Victoria Stauffenberg

The 22nd Amendment.

Prior to the passage of this amendment, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms.
Aerial view of the White House in Washington D.C.

Library of Congress / Carol Highsmith

Signs bills into law

Vetoes bills

Enforces laws

Commander in Chief (of the military)

Chief diplomat

Appoints federal judges
A ticket admitting the bearer to the House of Representatives for the electoral college count and the president's address

Collection of the United States House of Representatives

The Electoral College decides who is elected president. It was established to provide a compromise between popular election of the president and congressional selection.

The Electoral College | National Archives

Electoral College Fast Facts | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives
Close-up of the statue on the Supreme Court steps, with the words Equal Justice Under Law inscribed overhead

Library of Congress/ Carol Highsmith

Supreme Court Justices serve lifetime appointments, or serve until they retire.
Old drawn map of Washington D.C. prominently showing the Potomac River
Washington D.C. city plans, 1793

Library of Congress / J. Good

Print paper money

Mint coins

Declare war

Create an army

Make treaties

Set foreign policy
Map of the United States from 1874 showing geological layers
United States map, 1874

Library of Congress/ Census office/ Francis Amasa walker

Provide schooling and education

Provide protection (police)

Provide safety (fire departments)

Give a driver’s license

Approve zoning and land use

Source: Questions and answers are derived directly from or inspired by the 2020 Version of the Civics Test, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

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Last updated: February 22, 2024