Capitol Quiz

Capitol Quiz: Facts You Should Know About The U.S. Capitol

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When did the first African American serve in Congress?

1954

1870

1964

1789

1901

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What is a pocket veto?

When a bill fails in the Senate because it only has simple majority support, not 2/3 majority support.

A procedural process in which the Senate Majority Leader declines to take up a bill passed by the House.

When the President vetoes a bill supported by their party. The term alludes to a President not working, with their hands in their pockets.

When a bill is vetoed because Congress adjourns within 10 days of it reaching the President’s desk without his/her signature.

A procedural process in which the Speaker of the House declines to take up a bill passed by the Senate.

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Who gives a tiebreaking vote in the Senate?

The Senate Majority Leader

The Senate Pro Tempore

The Senator with the most seniority

The Vice President

Nobody. A tie means a bill doesn’t pass.

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How many years can the president serve in office?

8 years total

10 years total

12 years total, non-consecutively

Infinite, but only 8 years consecutively

12 years total

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How is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed?

A 3/4 vote in the House, a 3/4 vote in the Senate, a 3/4 vote by the states.

A 2/3 vote in the House, a 3/4 vote in the Senate, and the president’s signature.

A 2/3 vote in the Senate and a 3/5 vote by the states.

A majority in the House, a 3/4 vote in the Senate, a 3/4 vote by the states, and the president’s signature.

A 2/3 vote in the House, a 2/3 vote in the Senate, and a 3/4 vote by the states.

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What were the Federalist Papers?

James Madison’s scrupulous notes during the Constitutional Convention capturing delegate speeches and debates.

Alexander Hamilton’s and Thomas Jefferson’s published letters debating America’s monetary system.

Thomas Paine’s viral pamphlet calling for American Independence that inspired the colonies to revolution.

A series of broadsides that John Adams wrote in opposition to British tax policies.

Essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton advocating for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

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Which offices are first, second, and third in the line of presidential succession?

Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader.

Vice President, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader.

Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate President Pro Tempore.

Vice President, Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House.

Vice President, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate.

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What are the age requirements for a U.S. President, Senator, and Representative, respectively?

40, 35, and 30.

35, 30, and 25.

28, 28, and 28.

30, 30, and 25.

42, 35, and 27.

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Which is not guaranteed under the 1st Amendment?

The right to petition.

The right of assembly.

The right of a free press.

Free speech.

The right to privacy.

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Which state(s) has/have the fewest Members of Congress?

Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming

Rhode Island and Hawaii

North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska

Delaware

Hawaii

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Which state(s) has/have the most Members of Congress?

Texas, New York, and California

Texas

California

Texas and New York

California and Texas

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What is the primary way to end a filibuster?

3/5 vote of those present in the Senate.

2/3 vote of those present in both the House and the Senate.

3/4 vote of those present in both the House and the Senate.

3/5 vote of those present in the House.

An act of God.

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What does impeachment mean? Which body impeaches?

To accuse of wrongdoing. The U.S. Justice Department.

To accuse of wrongdoing. The U.S. House of Representatives.

To convict of wrongdoing. The U.S. Senate.

To convict of wrongdoing. The U.S. Supreme Court.

To commit an act of wrongdoing. The Executive Branch.

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What formally abolished slavery in the United States?

The North’s victory over the South in the Civil War

A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court

The Emancipation Proclamation

The 13th Amendment

The Civil Rights Act of 1865

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Why are Congressional term lengths 6 years for Senators and 2 years for Representatives?

People died younger in the 18th Century and the Founding Fathers worried that two chambers with longer terms would keep older, more experienced Americans from pursuing higher office.

Before the Connecticut Compromise, smaller states wanted a body of equal representation serving 6-year terms while larger states wanted a body of proportional representation serving 2-year terms. These numbers carried over.

James Madison suggested two years for all Members of Congress while Hamilton suggested six. As a compromise, President of the Constitutional Convention George Washington suggested six for the upper chamber and two for the lower chamber.

The Founding Fathers modeled Congress after the Ancient Roman Republic in which some Senators served longer terms and others shorter terms.

The Founding Fathers intended the Senate to be a slower, more deliberative body while the House would be reactive to popular opinion.

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How long is a U.S. Representative’s term?

4 years

2 years

6 years

8 years

3 years

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How long is a U.S. Senator’s term?

4 years

2 years

6 years

7 years

5 years

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Why was Washington, D.C. chosen as our nation’s capital?

Because it was about halfway in between the Northern states and Southern states.

Because it placed the capital in the South in return for the Federal government’s assumption of mostly Northern state’s debts from the Revolutionary War.

Because it helped resolve a land dispute between Virginia and Maryland.

Because George Washington, a wealthy landowner from Virginia, owned property he was willing to donate to be the U.S. capital.

Geographically, the Founding Fathers knew it was important for commerce and diplomatic travel that a nation’s capital be in a warm climate near a major body of water.

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How many votes are currently cast by the electoral college?

538

435

270

535

100

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What are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution called?

The Articles of Confederation

The Preamble

The Federalist Papers

The Enumerated Powers

The Bill of Rights

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What is the electoral college and why was it created?

Electors who select the American president. To confuse future Americans.

Electors who select the two major party nominees for president. Early Federalist and Anti-Federalist leaders wanted to ensure control of their parties.

Electors who select the American President and until the 17th Amendment, U.S. Senators. The Founding Fathers didn’t want senior government officials beholden to the masses in the same way U.S. representatives were intended to be.

Electors who select the American president every four years. A compromise between the Founding Fathers who wanted a lifetime appointment for the President and those who wanted a new president every year to keep the Executive Branch from becoming too powerful.

Electors who select the American president. A compromise between the Founding Fathers who wanted voters to directly elect the president and those who wanted other elected officials to do so.

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The West Front Expansion of the U.S. Capitol was built in the 1960s. When did the Capitol originally finish its construction?

1789

1800

1787

1820

1860

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Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?

John Hancock

George Washington

John Adams

Benjamin Franklin

Gouverneur Morris

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Who was not present at the Constitutional Convention?

Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

George Washington

Alexander Hamilton

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What was the significance of the Connecticut Compromise of 1787?

During the Constitutional Convention, it was the brokered deal that appeased delegates who wanted state Congressional representation determined by population and those who wanted equal representation.

During the Constitutional Convention, it was the brokered deal that barred the federal government from abolishing the slave trade for 20 years to appease slaveholders while not eliminating the possibility that slavery could be abolished in the future.

During the Constitutional Convention, it was the brokered deal that established Washington, D.C. as the future U.S. Capitol because it was about halfway in between the northern New England states (like Connecticut) and the Southern states.

During the Constitutional Convention, it was the brokered deal that established the President’s right to negotiate treaties with foreign nations as long as 2/3 of the Senate approves, thus appeasing those who feared a powerful executive branch.

During the Constitutional Convention, it was the brokered deal that allowed the president two 4-year terms in office to appease those who wanted a longer 16-year term and those who wanted shorter two-year terms.

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