CDFM Module 1 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
What happens if the President does not return a bill to Congress within 10 days (Sundays excepted) -
ANSWER-It will become a law 1.1.9
What is a temporary appropriation called? - ANSWER-Continued Resolution (CR) 1.1.9
Does the Constitution mandate the passage of a CR? - ANSWER-No 1.1.9
When does the President typically give to Congress information of the State of the Union? - ANSWER-
Latter part of January 1.1.10
Will the Supreme Court get involved in State matters? - ANSWER-No 1.1.11
Which Constitutional amendment is known as the states' rights? - ANSWER-Amendment 10 1.1.11
Who has the authority to establish inferior courts? - ANSWER-Congress (not the President) 1.1.11
Line item veto - ANSWER-Mid 1990's congress passed line item veto in which the President can red
line bills. It was declared unconstitutional. The term "I have been grieved" can be used to object the
president's line item veto. 1.1.11
If a Bill is revenue-related, which side of the Congress must it originate? - ANSWER-House of
Representatives 1.1.12
What is a Bill - ANSWER-Legislative proposal that begins in the House or Senate 1.1.12
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
What happens if the President does not return a bill to Congress within 10 days (Sundays excepted) -
ANSWER-It will become a law 1.1.9
What is a temporary appropriation called? - ANSWER-Continued Resolution (CR) 1.1.9
Does the Constitution mandate the passage of a CR? - ANSWER-No 1.1.9
When does the President typically give to Congress information of the State of the Union? - ANSWER-
Latter part of January 1.1.10
Will the Supreme Court get involved in State matters? - ANSWER-No 1.1.11
Which Constitutional amendment is known as the states' rights? - ANSWER-Amendment 10 1.1.11
Who has the authority to establish inferior courts? - ANSWER-Congress (not the President) 1.1.11
Line item veto - ANSWER-Mid 1990's congress passed line item veto in which the President can red
line bills. It was declared unconstitutional. The term "I have been grieved" can be used to object the
president's line item veto. 1.1.11
If a Bill is revenue-related, which side of the Congress must it originate? - ANSWER-House of
Representatives 1.1.12
What is a Bill - ANSWER-Legislative proposal that begins in the House or Senate 1.1.12
