CGFM Test Exam Questions with
Complete Solutions
Federal - Answer-refers to national government
Federalism - Answer-means that power is distributed among different levels of
government
Sovereignty - Answer-government cannot be sued by states or by citizens without its
permission
Popular Sovereignty - Answer-citizens hold the ultimate authority through the ballot and
even a sovereign government is accountable to citizens
Three levels of government - Answer-Federal, State, Local - each may not enact laws
that violate the constitutions of those levels of government above it.
Share the same primary purpose - to provide services to its citizens
10th Amendment - reserved clause - Answer-Federal gov't may not dictate how states
and locals operate their programs:
"The powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved for the states respectively, or to the people".
State and locals - "laboratories of democracy" - Answer-because they experiment with
politics and procedures that are later adopted at the national level.
(ex., performance measurement)
Branches of government - same at Federal and State level - Answer-*legislative
(sometimes referred to as the
General Assembly at the state level)
carry the "power of the purse"
*executive
*judicial
Municipal governments - Answer-*operate under a charter
Three main types:
* mayor-council (executive-legislative)
strong mayor - appoints subordinates
* council-manager (legislative only)
* commission (exec and legis. authority
combined).
,US Constitution - Article 1 - Answer-powers of legislative branch:
* enact laws
* collect taxes
* coin money
* raise and army
* declare war
US Constitution - Article II - Answer-power of President and executive branch:
* command armed forces
* grant pardons
* appoint ambasadors and supreme court
judges ( with advice and consent of the
Senate)
US Constitution - Article III - Answer-power of the Judiciary:
* legal cases involving constitutional rights
* controversies between two or more
states
* controversies between citizens of
different states.
Vice President - Legislative and Executive - Answer-because VP is President of the
Senate, ex officio
US Constitution Article IV - Answer-Power of the States
US Constitution Article V - Answer-Amendment Process
US Constitution Article VI - Answer-Legal Status of the Constitution
US Constitution Article VII - Answer-Ratification
Separation of Powers - Answer-* no one branch of government can exercise complete
control over another
checks and balances - no one branch of government is independent of the others
judicial review - courts can overturn laws if deemed unconstitutional
How does a bill become a law? - Answer-1) proposed law introduced by Congress (if
budgetary, by House)
2) both House and Senate must vote on the bill, and settle any differences in
conference committees
3) once passed, goes to president for signature
** if Pres. vetoes, may be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses
, ** if signed, can still be overturned by the courts through judicial review
Temporary Laws - Answer-not written into code, ex. budget appropriations
Line-Item Veto - Answer-Chief executive (president or governor) submits a proposed
budget to legislative branch.
** many states allow governor the line-item veto power.
** was introduced at the federal level in 1996 and used by Clinton in 1997, but particular
use was deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS in 1998.
Legislative Branch - Components - Answer-** Congress = House and Senate
** Congressional Budget Office
** Library of Congress
** GAO
** Architect of the Capitol
Executive Branch - Components - Answer-POTUS heads:
** US Dept of Education
** Dept of Interior
** Dept of Defense
** OMB
** US Trade Representative
Independent Agencies:
** CIA
** EPA
Judicial Branch Components - Answer-Supreme Court heads:
** 94 federal district courts organized by region into 12 circuits (each with its own Court
of Appeals)
Government Commissions - Answer-- permanent (fulfills a regulatory role)
ex. FTC, FCC, SEC (enacted by Congress)
- temporary (conducts research on a particular issue)
Hierarchy of Government Authorities - Answer-1) US Constitution supreme
2) Laws (mostly address policy)
3) Executive Orders
4) Rules and Regulations
Federal Gov't Responsibility - Answer-national defense, foreign relations, interstate
commerce, federal courts, housing, education, healthcare
Complete Solutions
Federal - Answer-refers to national government
Federalism - Answer-means that power is distributed among different levels of
government
Sovereignty - Answer-government cannot be sued by states or by citizens without its
permission
Popular Sovereignty - Answer-citizens hold the ultimate authority through the ballot and
even a sovereign government is accountable to citizens
Three levels of government - Answer-Federal, State, Local - each may not enact laws
that violate the constitutions of those levels of government above it.
Share the same primary purpose - to provide services to its citizens
10th Amendment - reserved clause - Answer-Federal gov't may not dictate how states
and locals operate their programs:
"The powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved for the states respectively, or to the people".
State and locals - "laboratories of democracy" - Answer-because they experiment with
politics and procedures that are later adopted at the national level.
(ex., performance measurement)
Branches of government - same at Federal and State level - Answer-*legislative
(sometimes referred to as the
General Assembly at the state level)
carry the "power of the purse"
*executive
*judicial
Municipal governments - Answer-*operate under a charter
Three main types:
* mayor-council (executive-legislative)
strong mayor - appoints subordinates
* council-manager (legislative only)
* commission (exec and legis. authority
combined).
,US Constitution - Article 1 - Answer-powers of legislative branch:
* enact laws
* collect taxes
* coin money
* raise and army
* declare war
US Constitution - Article II - Answer-power of President and executive branch:
* command armed forces
* grant pardons
* appoint ambasadors and supreme court
judges ( with advice and consent of the
Senate)
US Constitution - Article III - Answer-power of the Judiciary:
* legal cases involving constitutional rights
* controversies between two or more
states
* controversies between citizens of
different states.
Vice President - Legislative and Executive - Answer-because VP is President of the
Senate, ex officio
US Constitution Article IV - Answer-Power of the States
US Constitution Article V - Answer-Amendment Process
US Constitution Article VI - Answer-Legal Status of the Constitution
US Constitution Article VII - Answer-Ratification
Separation of Powers - Answer-* no one branch of government can exercise complete
control over another
checks and balances - no one branch of government is independent of the others
judicial review - courts can overturn laws if deemed unconstitutional
How does a bill become a law? - Answer-1) proposed law introduced by Congress (if
budgetary, by House)
2) both House and Senate must vote on the bill, and settle any differences in
conference committees
3) once passed, goes to president for signature
** if Pres. vetoes, may be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses
, ** if signed, can still be overturned by the courts through judicial review
Temporary Laws - Answer-not written into code, ex. budget appropriations
Line-Item Veto - Answer-Chief executive (president or governor) submits a proposed
budget to legislative branch.
** many states allow governor the line-item veto power.
** was introduced at the federal level in 1996 and used by Clinton in 1997, but particular
use was deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS in 1998.
Legislative Branch - Components - Answer-** Congress = House and Senate
** Congressional Budget Office
** Library of Congress
** GAO
** Architect of the Capitol
Executive Branch - Components - Answer-POTUS heads:
** US Dept of Education
** Dept of Interior
** Dept of Defense
** OMB
** US Trade Representative
Independent Agencies:
** CIA
** EPA
Judicial Branch Components - Answer-Supreme Court heads:
** 94 federal district courts organized by region into 12 circuits (each with its own Court
of Appeals)
Government Commissions - Answer-- permanent (fulfills a regulatory role)
ex. FTC, FCC, SEC (enacted by Congress)
- temporary (conducts research on a particular issue)
Hierarchy of Government Authorities - Answer-1) US Constitution supreme
2) Laws (mostly address policy)
3) Executive Orders
4) Rules and Regulations
Federal Gov't Responsibility - Answer-national defense, foreign relations, interstate
commerce, federal courts, housing, education, healthcare
