USCIS 128:21. How many U.S. senators are there?

OpenAI. (2026).  How many U.S. senators are there?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

There are 100 U.S. senators in the United States Senate. The Senate is one part of the U.S. Congress.

Each state has two senators, no matter how big or small the state is. Since there are 50 states, there are 100 senators total.

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USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

One Nation, One People (2025 Version)

USCIS 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

One Nation, One People (2024) original fomat | single page reformat

USCIS 128:20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name one power of the U.S. Congress. *  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Congress has important powers in the federal government. One power of Congress is that it writes laws. Congress creates new laws to help run the country and protect the people.

Congress also has the power to declare war. This means Congress can decide when the United States will go to war. Another power of Congress is to make the federal budget, which means deciding how the government will spend money for things like schools, roads, and the military.

Learn more: 

USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)

One Nation, One People (2025 Version)

USCIS 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version)

One Nation, One People (2024) original fomat | single page reformat

USCIS 128:19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

OpenAI. (2026).  What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The U.S. Congress has two parts. These two parts are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, they make the legislative branch of the federal government.

The Senate has two senators from each state. The House of Representatives has members based on the population of each state. Both parts work together to write and pass laws for the United States.

USCIS 128:18. What part of the federal government writes laws?

OpenAI. (2026).  What part of the federal government writes laws?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The part of the federal government that writes laws is the legislative branch. The legislative branch is also called Congress, which is also called the national legislature.

Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, they propose, write, and vote on new laws for the United States.

USCIS 128:17. The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

OpenAI. (2026).  The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The President of the United States is in charge of the executive branch of government. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States.

The president is the leader of the executive branch and works with the Cabinet and federal agencies. The president also serves as the Commander in Chief of the military and represents the country in foreign relations.

USCIS 128:16. Name the three branches of government.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name the three branches of government.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States government has three branches. They are the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch has a different job, which helps keep the government organized and fair.

The legislative branch is Congress. Congress makes the laws. The executive branch is the president. The president carries out and enforces the laws. The judicial branch is the courts. The courts interpret the laws and decide if laws follow the Constitution.

USCIS 128:15. There are three branches of government. Why?

 

OpenAI. (2026). There are three branches of government. Why?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States has three branches of government so that no single part becomes too powerful. The founders wanted to protect freedom by dividing power among different branches. Each branch has its own job, which helps prevent abuse of power.

This system is called separation of powers. The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws. By separating these duties, the government works more fairly and carefully.

The branches also use checks and balances. This means each branch can limit the power of the others. For example, the president can veto laws, Congress can override vetoes, and courts can review laws. These limits help keep the government balanced and protect the rights of the people.

USCIS 128:14. Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

Icons from TheNounProject.com editid by Jennifer Gagliardi, 2026.

 Before 1600, the Iroquois Great Law of Peace showed how different Native American nations could work together under one system while keeping their own local governments. This idea later influenced American leaders and helped shape the concept of federalism, where power is shared between a central government and local governments.

In 1620, the Mayflower Compact was written by the Pilgrims before they settled in New England. It was an agreement to create laws and follow them for the good of the community. This document is an early example of self-government and majority rule in America.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, written in 1639, is often called the first written constitution in America. It explained how the government should work and said that leaders get their power from the people. This showed that government should be based on the will of the people.

In 1776, the Virginia Declaration of Rights stated that people are born with basic rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press. These ideas later influenced the creation of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Also in 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced that the American colonies were free from British rule. It explained the idea of natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Articles of Confederation, approved in 1781, created the first national government of the United States. However, it gave the central government very little power. Because the government was too weak, leaders later decided a new Constitution was needed.

Between 1787 and 1788, the Federalist Papers were written to support the new Constitution. These essays explained why a stronger national government was necessary and how the Constitution would protect the country.

At the same time, the Anti-Federalist Papers argued against the Constitution. The writers feared the government would become too powerful. Their concerns helped lead to the addition of the Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms.