CDFM Module 1 (PDF) | 2026 Exam Questions
and Answers
3 branches of federal government - ANSWER- executive (me), judicial, legislative 1.1.1
OMB Circular A-11 - ANSWER- Preparation and Submission of Budget Estimates Comes out
every summer. 1.1.2 Contains a section on reporting on employment and personnel
compensation 1.2.4 Rules for calculating FTEs can be found here 1.2.13
Best place to find updated laws - ANSWER- Thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html 1.1.2
Genesis of US Federal Legislative process can be traced to these events - ANSWER-
Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution ratified by 9 states,
Constitution took effect 1.1.5
Declaration of Independence adopted (year) - ANSWER- 1776 1.1.5
Articles of Confederation ratified (year) - ANSWER- 1781 1.1.5
Constitution ratified by 9 states (year) - ANSWER- 1788 1.1.5
Constitution went into effect - ANSWER- 1789 1.1.5
What was the first attempt to come up with a government? - ANSWER- Articles of
Confederation 1.1.5
What did an amendment to the Articles of Confederation require? - ANSWER- Unanimous
approval of all the states 1.1.5
What did the Constitution establish - ANSWER- 3 branches of government (judicial,
executive, legislative) 1.1.6
What is the essential principle of the Constitution - ANSWER- Everything you do must be
legal (purpose, time, amount) 1.1.6
What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called - ANSWER- Bill of Rights 1.1.6
What does Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution state - ANSWER- Congress shall have the
authority to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution 1.1.7
, Who heads the executive branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Led by the president and
vice president, enforces/executes laws
Who makes up the legislative branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Congress and it
makes/passes our laws
What are the two parts of Congress - ANSWER- Senate and House of Representatives
Who leads the judicial branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Led by the Supreme Court
and interprets our laws
The organization of the Federal Government can be found where in the Constitution - ANSWER-
In the first 3 articles 1.1.7
What does the preamble to the Constitution of the US begin with and how do we exercise its
sentiment - ANSWER- "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
Union...."; we exercise this through the election process. 1.1.7
Which Article of the Constitution discusses the legislative branch? - ANSWER- Article 1 1.1.7
Which Articles support which branches of Government? - ANSWER- Article 1; Legislative,
Article 2; Executive, Article 3, Judicial
What are the law-making powers of the Legislative Brach per Article 1 - ANSWER- Raise taxes,
borrow money, regulate commerce, conscript forces, declare war, raise and support armies
1.1.8
How many years is a Senator's term? - ANSWER- 6 years 1.1.8
How many years is a House of Representative's term? - ANSWER- 2 years 1.1.8
Who elects state senators? - ANSWER- The people 1.1.8
Who is the President of the Senate and when is he allowed to vote? - ANSWER- The Vice
President is the President of the Senate, but is only allowed to vote when they are equally
divided 1.1.8
Who budgets the Vice President's expenses? - ANSWER- The Senate 1.1.8
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate where? - ANSWER- In the House of Representatives
1.1.8
What happens when the President vetoes a bill? - ANSWER- It will go back to Congress. If 2/3
of the House and 2/3 of the Senate then approve the bill, it will become a law 1.1.8
and Answers
3 branches of federal government - ANSWER- executive (me), judicial, legislative 1.1.1
OMB Circular A-11 - ANSWER- Preparation and Submission of Budget Estimates Comes out
every summer. 1.1.2 Contains a section on reporting on employment and personnel
compensation 1.2.4 Rules for calculating FTEs can be found here 1.2.13
Best place to find updated laws - ANSWER- Thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html 1.1.2
Genesis of US Federal Legislative process can be traced to these events - ANSWER-
Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution ratified by 9 states,
Constitution took effect 1.1.5
Declaration of Independence adopted (year) - ANSWER- 1776 1.1.5
Articles of Confederation ratified (year) - ANSWER- 1781 1.1.5
Constitution ratified by 9 states (year) - ANSWER- 1788 1.1.5
Constitution went into effect - ANSWER- 1789 1.1.5
What was the first attempt to come up with a government? - ANSWER- Articles of
Confederation 1.1.5
What did an amendment to the Articles of Confederation require? - ANSWER- Unanimous
approval of all the states 1.1.5
What did the Constitution establish - ANSWER- 3 branches of government (judicial,
executive, legislative) 1.1.6
What is the essential principle of the Constitution - ANSWER- Everything you do must be
legal (purpose, time, amount) 1.1.6
What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called - ANSWER- Bill of Rights 1.1.6
What does Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution state - ANSWER- Congress shall have the
authority to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution 1.1.7
, Who heads the executive branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Led by the president and
vice president, enforces/executes laws
Who makes up the legislative branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Congress and it
makes/passes our laws
What are the two parts of Congress - ANSWER- Senate and House of Representatives
Who leads the judicial branch and what is its purpose - ANSWER- Led by the Supreme Court
and interprets our laws
The organization of the Federal Government can be found where in the Constitution - ANSWER-
In the first 3 articles 1.1.7
What does the preamble to the Constitution of the US begin with and how do we exercise its
sentiment - ANSWER- "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
Union...."; we exercise this through the election process. 1.1.7
Which Article of the Constitution discusses the legislative branch? - ANSWER- Article 1 1.1.7
Which Articles support which branches of Government? - ANSWER- Article 1; Legislative,
Article 2; Executive, Article 3, Judicial
What are the law-making powers of the Legislative Brach per Article 1 - ANSWER- Raise taxes,
borrow money, regulate commerce, conscript forces, declare war, raise and support armies
1.1.8
How many years is a Senator's term? - ANSWER- 6 years 1.1.8
How many years is a House of Representative's term? - ANSWER- 2 years 1.1.8
Who elects state senators? - ANSWER- The people 1.1.8
Who is the President of the Senate and when is he allowed to vote? - ANSWER- The Vice
President is the President of the Senate, but is only allowed to vote when they are equally
divided 1.1.8
Who budgets the Vice President's expenses? - ANSWER- The Senate 1.1.8
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate where? - ANSWER- In the House of Representatives
1.1.8
What happens when the President vetoes a bill? - ANSWER- It will go back to Congress. If 2/3
of the House and 2/3 of the Senate then approve the bill, it will become a law 1.1.8
