Questions: The Great State

What are the three branches of state government?

• Education, Transportation, Health

• Executive, Legislative, Judicial

• Governor, Mayor, Council

• Federal, State, Local

Who is the head of a state’s executive branch?

• President

• Chief Justice

• Governor

• Mayor

What are the two chambers in most state legislatures?

• House of Commons and Senate

• State Court and Governor’s Office

• Senate and House of Representatives

• Assembly and Council

How is Virginia different from these states?

• Virginia has only one house in its legislature

• Virginia has a House of Delegates instead of House of Representatives

• Virginia has a Senatorial Committee instead of a Senate

• Virginia has three houses in its legislature

What is the purpose of having three branches of government?

• To speed up the lawmaking process

• To give more power to the executive

• To balance power and prevent one branch from becoming too powerful

• To limit citizens’ involvement

What can a state governor do to a bill passed by the legislature?

• Sign it only

• Ignore it

• Veto it

• Rewrite it

What does the state’s high court do?

• Makes laws

• Elects the governor

• Reviews decisions from lower courts and interprets the state constitution

• Sends bills to the legislature

Who elects representatives to the state legislature?

• The governor

• The president

• Citizens in legislative districts

• Judges

What do state departments like education and transportation do?

• Carry out laws passed by the state legislature

• Arrest criminals

• Write the state constitution

What is usually the first court a legal case goes to in the state system?

• Supreme Court

• Trial Court

• Constitutional Court

• Appeals Court