2025 civics test · Question 15 · Principles of American Government
There are three branches of government. Why?
Any one of these answers is accepted
- So one part does not become too powerful
- Checks and balances
- Separation of powers
What this means
Power is split among three branches so that no one part of government becomes too powerful. Each branch can limit the other two. This system is called checks and balances, or separation of powers.
Some examples of how it works in practice:
- Congress passes a bill, but the president can veto it.
- Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds vote.
- The courts can rule that a law violates the Constitution.
- The president appoints judges, but the Senate must approve them.
Any of “checks and balances,” “separation of powers,” or “so one part does not become too powerful” is an accepted answer.
Why this is on the test
Checks and balances explain why the president cannot simply pass a law and why Congress cannot decide a court case, a pattern that appears in many other test questions.
How this question is asked
On the 2025 civics test, the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions out loud and you pass by answering 12 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion.
Related questions
More from Principles of American Government.
- 1 What is the form of government of the United States?
- 2 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 3 Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- 4 The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
- 5 How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- 6 What does the Bill of Rights protect?