Grade 4 Social Studies Practice Test: Three Branches and Levels of Government
- Three Branches and Levels of Government
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
This test covers how the United States government is organized: the Constitution, the three branches and the three levels of government. Tip: ask yourself who makes, carries out or judges the law.
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Question 1
What is the U.S. Constitution?
Correct answer: D
The Constitution, written in 1787, sets up the national government and is the supreme law of the land. The Declaration of Independence was the document addressed to the king.
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Question 2
Which list names the three branches of the U.S. government?
Correct answer: B
The three branches are the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (the president) and the judicial branch (the courts). Federal, state and local are levels of government.
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Question 3
Which branch of government decides what laws mean and whether they follow the Constitution?
Correct answer: B
The judicial branch is made up of the courts, with the Supreme Court at the top. Congress makes laws, and the president carries them out.
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Question 4
Congress is made up of which two parts?
Correct answer: A
Congress has two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Supreme Court belongs to the judicial branch.
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Question 5
A big hole in a city street needs to be fixed. Which level of government usually takes care of this?
Correct answer: D
City or town governments take care of local streets, parks and trash pickup. The federal government handles matters for the whole country.
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Question 6
Which level of government is in charge of the U.S. military and printing money?
Correct answer: D
Only the national government can print money, keep an army and make treaties with other countries. States and cities cannot do this.
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Question 7
Why does the Constitution give each branch ways to limit the other branches?
Correct answer: C
This system is called checks and balances. For example, the president can veto a bill, and Congress can override the veto with enough votes.
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Question 8
What is the Bill of Rights?
Correct answer: A
The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, protects freedoms such as speech, religion and the press. It is the first ten amendments.
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Question 9
How old must a U.S. citizen be to vote in an election for president?
Correct answer: B
The 26th Amendment set the voting age at 18 in 1971. Before that, most states required voters to be 21.
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Question 10
In which building does Congress meet to make laws?
Correct answer: C
Congress meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The White House is the president's home and office, and the Pentagon is a headquarters of the U.S. military.
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