System of Government · President and Courts

Transcript

1. Ana

   Today is System of Government, part two. The president, the courts, and what belongs to the states.

2. Michael

   Questions thirty-six through sixty-two. A few names change: the president, the vice president, the Chief Justice, your governor, your state capital. We will tell you what those questions want. We will not say those names.

3. Ana

   How many years is the president elected for?

4. Michael

   Four years.

5. Ana

   Four years.

6. Michael

   And only two terms. Why? The twenty-second Amendment. Or say: to keep the president from becoming too powerful. Memory trick: four years, two terms, no king.

7. Ana

   They ask the name of the president now.

8. Michael

   You have to know the current president. That name can change. We are not saying it on this show. Learn the name before your interview.

9. Ana

   Same for the vice president now.

10. Michael

    Yes. You have to know the current vice president. Not a name from this episode.

11. Ana

    If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

12. Michael

    The vice president. That's a fixed answer.

13. Ana

    Vice president takes over.

14. Michael

    Name one power of the president. Signs bills into law. Vetoes bills. Enforces laws. Commander in Chief. Chief diplomat. Appoints federal judges. You only need one. On this show: signs bills into law.

15. Ana

    Signs bills into law.

16. Michael

    Who is Commander in Chief of the military? The president.

17. Ana

    Who signs bills to become laws? The president.

18. Michael

    Who vetoes bills? The president. Who appoints federal judges? The president.

19. Ana

    A lot of president.

20. Michael

    That's the point. Memory trick: military, sign, veto, judges, all the president.

21. Ana

    The executive branch has many parts. Name one.

22. Michael

    The president. Or the Cabinet. Or federal departments and agencies. Simplest: the president.

23. Ana

    What does the Cabinet do?

24. Michael

    Advises the president.

25. Ana

    Cabinet advises.

26. Michael

    Name two Cabinet-level positions. You need two. Easy pair: Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury. Attorney General also works. Vice president is accepted too. On this show: Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury.

27. Ana

    Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury.

28. Michael

    Why is the Electoral College important? It decides who is elected president. That's the clean one.

29. Ana

    Electoral College decides the president.

30. Michael

    Now the courts. One part of the judicial branch: the Supreme Court. Or federal courts.

31. Ana

    Supreme Court.

32. Michael

    What does the judicial branch do? Reviews laws. Explains laws. Resolves disputes about the law. Decides if a law goes against the Constitution. One is enough. I like: decides if a law goes against the Constitution.

33. Ana

    Highest court?

34. Michael

    The Supreme Court. How many seats? Nine. How many justices usually needed to decide a case? Five.

35. Ana

    Nine seats. Five to decide.

36. Michael

    How long do they serve? For life. Or lifetime appointment. Or until retirement.

37. Ana

    Why for life?

38. Michael

    To be independent of politics. To limit outside political influence.

39. Ana

    Life term. Independent.

40. Michael

    Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? You have to know the current Chief Justice. That name can change. We will not say it here.

41. Ana

    Current Chief Justice. I need that name myself.

42. Michael

    Name one power only for the federal government. Print paper money. Mint coins. Declare war. Create an army. Make treaties. Set foreign policy. On this show: declare war.

43. Ana

    Federal: declare war.

44. Michael

    One power only for the states. Provide schooling. Police. Fire departments. Give a driver's license. Approve zoning. On this show: give a driver's license.

45. Ana

    States: driver's license.

46. Michael

    The tenth Amendment says powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

47. Ana

    Tenth Amendment. Leftover powers go to the states or the people.

48. Michael

    Who is the governor of your state now? You have to know your governor. If you live in D.C., you say D.C. does not have a governor. We will not say a name.

49. Ana

    My governor. My answer.

50. Michael

    What is the capital of your state? You have to know your state capital. D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. If you live in a territory, name the capital of that territory.

51. Ana

    My capital. Not Washington, D.C., unless that's a different question.

52. Michael

    Right. Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. That comes later. This one is your state.

53. Ana

    Story version.

54. Michael

    The president is elected for four years, two terms max, so no one becomes too powerful. If the president cannot serve, the vice president becomes president. The president signs bills, vetoes bills, commands the military, and appoints federal judges. The Cabinet advises the president. Two Cabinet jobs: Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury. The Electoral College decides who is elected president. The judicial branch is the Supreme Court. Nine seats. Five to decide a case. Justices serve for life so they stay independent. The federal government can declare war. States give driver's licenses. The tenth Amendment leaves other powers to the states or the people. You also have to know, on your own: the current president, vice president, Chief Justice, your governor, and your state capital.

55. Ana

    Fixed answers in my mouth. Changing names I look up before the interview.

56. Michael

    Practice saying the fixed ones out loud. Next episode: Rights and Responsibilities. Official questions are at uscis.gov. This podcast is independent study. We are not affiliated with U.S. C.I.S. I'm Michael.

57. Ana

    I'm Ana. Thanks for listening.

58. Michael

    We'll see you next time.

Questions in this episode

Official USCIS answers for questions 36 to 62 of the 2025 civics test.

• 36.The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
• 37.The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
• 38.What is the name of the President of the United States now?
• 39.What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
• 40.If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
• 41.Name one power of the president.
• 42.Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
• 43.Who signs bills to become laws?
• 44.Who vetoes bills?
• 45.Who appoints federal judges?
• 46.The executive branch has many parts. Name one.
• 47.What does the President's Cabinet do?
• 48.What are two Cabinet-level positions?
• 49.Why is the Electoral College important?
• 50.What is one part of the judicial branch?
• 51.What does the judicial branch do?
• 52.What is the highest court in the United States?
• 53.How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
• 54.How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
• 55.How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
• 56.Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
• 57.Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
• 58.Name one power that is only for the federal government.
• 59.Name one power that is only for the states.
• 60.What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
• 61.Who is the governor of your state now?
• 62.What is the capital of your state?