Founding documents, constitutional amendments, rights, and legal charters.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
How many electoral votes must a candidate win to be elected President today?
The United States has 538 electoral votes today so a candidate needs 270 to win.
How long is one term for the President of the United States under the Constitution?
Article II sets the presidential term at four years after a 1787 convention compromise.
Which amendment limits the President to two elected terms?
The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified in 1951 after Roosevelt won four terms.
On what date does the Constitution require the presidential term to begin?
The Twentieth Amendment moved inauguration from March 4 to January 20 to shorten lame-duck rule.
Which German body gives state governments a voice in making federal laws?
State governments appoint Bundesrat members, so a change in a state government can change the federal balance.
In a hereditary monarchy, what usually determines who inherits the throne?
Succession laws can set the order among relatives, so being part of the royal family does not give everyone an equal claim.
What is the British monarch’s formal approval of a bill passed by Parliament called?
The last British monarch to refuse royal assent was Queen Anne, who blocked a Scottish militia bill in 1708.
What are the member states of the Swiss federation called?
Each Swiss canton has its own constitution, parliament, government, and courts.
What system divides governing powers between national and regional governments?
Federal systems let regional governments make some laws of their own, so rules can vary within one country.
In Britain’s constitutional monarchy, who leads the government?
A government can lose office after losing the confidence of the Commons, even without a general election.