Fun Trivia : U.S. Government

Structure Sub-topic of: Government Quizzes Other encyclopedia entries of interest: U.S. Presidents | U.S. Law | U.S. Vice-Presidents | Presidential Trivia | U.S. First Ladies | Electoral College | Other U.S. Politicians | Campaigns & Elections | Civil Rights | U.S. Congress | Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 85 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display. Special Topics Who Said It? Panther Party Over Here Politics Massachusetts Politics American Politics in the 1990s History of Suffragettes U.S. Political History: Post 1920 Politicians and Political Parties-No.2 The American Socialist Party Minnesota Politics Federal Employment Benefits Important U.S. Documents American Politics of the 1970s Political Parties and Organizations American Politics in the 1980s Hawaiian Politics Democrat or Republican Idea? American Politics - History and Basic Ideas Who was in the 2000 Cabinet? Generations - U.S. Politics

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

U.S. Government

Who was President of the United States at the time of the 'Whiskey Ring Scandal'?

U.S.Government Scandals


Ulysses S. Grant. Orville E. Babcock, private secretary to President Grant, defrauded the government of huge sums of tax money, from the sale of alcoholic beverages, by diverting these funds to politicians and others.



In what State were the Teapot Dome government-owned Navy oil reserves located?

U.S.Government Scandals


Wyoming. The Teapot Dome reserves got its name from a nearby rock that resembled a teapot.



For what crime was Albert Bacon Fall, former Secretary of the Interior, convicted in 1929 involving the Teapot Dome Scandal?

U.S.Government Scandals


Accepting a bribe. Albert Fall criminally and illegally leased oil reserves from Teapot Dome and Elk Hills, California to a private company. He spent one year in prison and paid a {$} 1000,000.00 fine for accepting a bribe.



Who was President of the U. S. at the time that the Senate Public Lands Committee uncovered the illegal leasing of government-owned oil reserves to a private company?

U.S.Government Scandals


Calvin Coolidge. The illegal leasing of oil reserves by Albert Fall began during Warren Harding's administration. Harding was unaware of these actions and he died two month before the Senate investigations began in October 1923. The scandal was uncovered during Calvin Coolidge's term in office.



Which military organization took control of Nicaragua from the Somoza Government?

U.S.Government Scandals


The Sandinistas . Because the Sandanistas were considered to be a soviet controlled organization, a secret illegal operation by U.S. officials involved the shipment of military equipment to the Contra forces. This latter led to the Iran Contra Scandal.



Which man was NOT included in the initial indictment of 4 persons, by a Grand Jury, for illegal operational conspiracy in the Iran Contra affair?

U.S.Government Scandals


Robert C. McFarlane. The fourth man indicted was Albert Hakim.



Of the 11 persons charged and tried by the Independent Prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh, with serious criminal acts in the Iran-Contra affair , who was the only one that served time in prison?

U.S.Government Scandals


Thomas G. Cline. The Iran-Contra affair was one of the biggest, high level government scandals in history. All of the men charged were convicted, but only Thomas G. Cline served time in prison (16 months).



Who planned and directed the break-in of the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate building, which led to the 'Watergate scandal' and the resignation of President Nixon?

U.S.Government Scandals


G. Gordon Liddy. E. Howard Hunt, Jr. was a co-conspirator for the break-in operation.



Who fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox during the Watergate investigation on orders from President Nixon that resulted in the so-called, 'Saturday Night Massacre'?

U.S.Government Scandals


Robert H. Bork. Elliot Richardson resigned. William Ruckelhas was fired by Nixon, Bork fired Cox. Three major persons in the Watergate investigation 'toasted' on a Saturday night.



Who testified before the Senate committee to investigate the Watergate scandal and revealed the presence of voice activated tape recorders in President Nixon's office?

U.S.Government Scandals


Alexander Butterfield. The testimony by a lower level staff member of the White House blew the case wide open and resulted in a prolonged process of obtaining the tapes.



Which U.S. government official is second in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency?

U.S. Government Part I


Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 specifies the Speaker of the House of Representatives as second in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency, immediately after the Vice President.



In what year was the Department of Defense established?

U.S. Government Part I


1949. In 1949, the Department of Defense replaced the War Department as the agency responsible for the defense of the United States and all military matters.



Which committee of the House of Representatives is responsible for raising the revenue required to finance the U.S. Government?

U.S. Government Part I


Ways and Means Committee. In addition to raising the revenue required to finance the U.S. government, some of the other responsibilities of the House Ways and Means Committee are: trade and tariff legislation; Social Security, Medicare, and child welfare legislation; and granting authority to the Federal government to borrow money.



Which member of the President's Cabinet has jurisdiction over the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

U.S. Government Part I


Attorney General. The FBI is an agency of the Department of Justice, headed by the Attorney General.



What does Article VI of the U.S. Constitution specify?

U.S. Government Part I


The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land.. In addition to declaring the Constitution the Supreme Law of the land, Article VI also specifies that all government officials must take an oath of office to support the Constitution; that there shall be no religious test for holding public office; and that the Federal government shall honor all debts incurred before adoption of the Constitution.



What Federal law created the Department of Defense?

U.S. Government Part I


National Security Act of 1947. The National Security Act of 1947 created the National Military Establishment (NME). In 1949, Congress amended the act, and the NME became the Department of Defense. This same act also created the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.



What does the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specify?

U.S. Government Part I


Variations to Congressional pay can’t take effect until after a Federal election.. This amendment was first proposed in 1789, but not ratified until 1992. The amendment provides that no law varying compensation shall take effect until after the next election.



Which agency of the U.S. government is charged with the specific primary responsibility of supervising and conducting government litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court?

U.S. Government Part I


Office of the Solicitor General. The Solicitor General determines the cases in which U.S. Supreme Court review will be sought by the government, and the positions the government will take before the Court



What Latin motto appears underneath the base of the pyramid on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States?

U.S. Government Part I


Novus Ordo Seclorum. "Novus Ordo Seclorum," which translated means: "A New Order for the Ages." By the way, both sides of the Great Seal of the United States may be seen on the reverse side of the American one-dollar bill.



On October 1, 2002, what was the annual salary of the President of the United States?

U.S. Government Part I


$400,000. On October 1, 2002, the President’s annual salary was $400,000 (taxable). In addition, the President received $50,000 a year (non-taxable) for costs related to official duties, and $100,000 a year (non-taxable) for travel expenses.



Before it came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security in January 2003, to which major executive branch of the U.S. Government did the U.S. Coast Guard belong?

U.S. Government Part I


Department of Transportation. The Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.



The National Security Council (NSC) falls under the jurisdiction of which U.S. government agency?

U.S. Government Part I


Executive Office of the President. The Government Reorganization Plan of 1949 placed the NSC under the jurisdiction of the Executive Office of the President.



Which committee of the U.S. Senate is responsible for legislation relating to trademarks, patents, and copyrights?

U.S. Government Part I


Judiciary Committee. In addition to trademarks, copyrights, and patents, the Judiciary Committee’s responsibilities include legislation concerning: civil liberties; bankruptcy; federal courts and judges; and mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.



Two agencies of the U.S. government are legally responsible for regulating cell phones. One of those agencies is the Federal Communications Commission. What is the other?

U.S. Government Part II


Food and Drug Administration. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the health effects of cell phones. The FDA derives its authority to regulate cell phones from the radiation control provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1968.



The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) falls under the jurisdiction of which major executive department of the U.S. government?

U.S. Government Part II


None; it is an independent regulatory commission.. The CPSC is an independent regulatory commission created by the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972. The CPSC began operating in 1973.



Here are the surnames of seven of the nine people who were Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 1, 2002: Rehnquist, O'Connor, Stevens, Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy, Breyer. What are the surnames of the two Supreme Court Justices not listed here?

U.S. Government Part II


Souter and Ginsburg. The missing justices are Souter (David H.) and Ginsburg (Ruth Bader). Souter was nominated to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, and Ginsburg by President Clinton in 1993.



Which U.S. government agency is responsible for providing travel and transportation services, preserving historic buildings, and developing, advocating, and evaluating government-wide policies?

U.S. Government Part II


General Services Administration. The General Services Administration (GSA) was established by the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, which was passed by the 81st Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman on July 1, 1949.



How long is a full term for members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (The Fed), and may a member who serves a full term be reappointed?

U.S. Government Part II


14 years, no. A full term for members of the Fed’s Board of Governors is 14 years. One term begins every two years, on February 1 of even-numbered years. A Governor who serves a full term may not be reappointed; however, a member who completes an unexpired portion of a vacated term may be reappointed.



How long is the term of office for the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Fed, and may they be reappointed?

U.S. Government Part II


4 years, yes. The Fed Chairman and Vice Chairman are chosen from among the sitting members of the Board of Governors, and serve 4-year terms. They may be reappointed as Chairman and Vice Chairman until their terms as members of the Board of Governors expire.



What is the nickname of the wholly government-owned corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that was created in 1968 to serve low- to moderate-income homebuyers?

U.S. Government Part II


Ginnie Mae. Ginnie Mae is the nickname for the Government National Mortgage Association, wholly owned by HUD, and charged with the responsibility of assisting low- to moderate-income homebuyers. By the way, the Federal National Mortgage Association (nicknamed "Fannie Mae") was a sister agency within HUD, until it sold its government-held stock and became a private corporation in 1968.



What does Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 specify?

U.S. Government Part II


Prohibits discrimination based on gender in educational programs. Title IX applies to institutions of higher education that receive Federal funds – college and university undergraduate and graduate programs. There are many exceptions to the prohibition against gender discrimination that are specified in Title IX.