Do you consider yourself a political enthusiast, or are you just trying to brush up on your knowledge of the United States political system? This US Political trivia quiz is designed to challenge your knowledge of American politics and government, from the founding of the nation to modern-day issues. Whether you’re a seasoned political commentator or a newcomer to the field, this quiz will put your understanding of US political history, institutions, and notable figures to the test. So, get ready to exercise your brain and learn more about the fascinating world of US politics with this fun trivia quiz!
If you enjoyed this US political trivia you might also enjoy our American history trivia as well!
What was President George Washington's original profession?
George Washington served as a land surveyor starting in 1749.
Which U.S. President was assassinated in a theater?
President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 at the Peterson House in Washington, D.C.
Who was the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court Bench?
In 1981, O'Connor was the first woman to join the Federal Bench.
Which of the following is not a branch of the U.S. Government?
The Military is a subsection of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government.
The Watergate scandal was related to which sitting president at the time?
The Watergate Scandal occurred during Nixon's presidency, and constituted the bugging of the Democratic Party's offices in Washington D.C.
Which president created the National Park system as known today?
Woodrow Wilson was the President to sign the National Park Service Act, creating a new federal bureau to protect natural lands across the United States.
Which constitutional amendment abolished slavery?
The 13th Amendment was passed in 1851 and abolished slavery.
Which member of the U.S. Government is third in Presidential Succession?
The Line of Succession is enumerated in Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
Which President was originally a peanut farmer before turning to politics?
Jimmy Carter, also known as Peanut Man, grew up in Georgia, a region that is suitable for peanut development.
How many houses of Congress exist today?
The United States Congress is a bicameral system, meaning it has two chambers.
Which state is known for hosting the first Presidential Primary each election?
Since 1920, New Hampshire has been the first of all states to complete its Presidential Primary.
What are the first 10 amendments of the Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights constitutes the 10 first amendments to the U.S. Constitution, starting with Freedom of Speech and ending with Federalism.
How old do you have to be run for President?
The age of the president is explicitly enumerated within the constitution.
Which U.S. President served the fewest amount of days in office?
President Harrison spent on 31 days in office before he fell ill and died.
Which president won the 2008 election?
Barack Obama won the 2008 Election against the Republican candidate, John McCain.
In the event that there's a tie in the Senate, which member of the U.S. Government breaks the tie?
Among the responsibilities of the Vice President is to be the President of the Senate, who breaks ties in the event that they occur.
How many terms may a U.S. President hold the office?
Presidents may only serve up to two terms in office; however, FDR, the sole president to serve three, was in office prior to the constitutional amendment was passed that forbid such activity.
Who was the first president to meet with a leader of North Korea?
Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 30, 2019.
Which U.S. landmark case established Judicial Review?
In 1803, the Supreme Court gave themselves the power to check the legislature by declaring policies unconstitutional.
How many justices are currently sitting on the Supreme Court Bench?
While 9 has been the norm, it's not constitutionally enshrined.
Which of the following states perform a Caucus?
Iowa is a famous Caucus state as its among the first in the country to be counted during Presidential Elections.
What do the stripes on the American Flag represent?
The 13 stripes on the U.S. Flag are allusions to the 13 Original Colonies.
Who was the president of the Confederacy?
Jefferson Davis was the sole president of the Confederacy before it was defeated.
Who became President after Lincoln's assassination?
Johnson began his presidency on April 15th 1865 as the 17th president of the United States.
Who was John McCain's running mate in the 2008 Election?
Sarah Palin ran alongside John McCain in the 2008 election, and became a frequent figure of satire on SNL for her Alaskan idioms.
Famously, which election is closely related to "Hanging Chads"?
During the 2000 Election, many ballots were punctured but not completely pierced, giving them the appearance of a paper bulge, and ultimately causing controversy regarding the vote count.
In which state were the most Presidents born?
8 presidents were born in Virginia including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, William Henry Harrison, James Monroe, Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, and Woodrow Wilson.
Which president is notoriously associated with a blue dress?
Bill Clinton is associated with a blue dress as he was accused of adultery with evidence being left on an interns garments.
Sarah Palin ran alongside John McCain in the 2008 election, and became a frequent figure of satire on SNL for her Alaskan idioms.
The Incumbency Advantage is a well documented phenomenon that gives existing members of congress a leg up over budding newcomers.
Which President oversaw the creation of Medicare?
In 1965 President Johnson passed Medicare into law while in the state of Missouri.
Who was the first female Vice President?
Kamala Harris became the first female Vice President to the 46th President, Joe Biden.
What Senate rule can be used to end a Filibuster?
Cloture is a tool used to end a filibuster when there's at least 60 votes.
Which President oversaw the creation of the Federal Reserve?
Wilson created the Federal Reserve in 1913 via the Federal Reserve Act.
Who was the first president to serve only one term?
Buchanan served as President immediately before the onset of the Civil War.
Which U.S. President famously uttered, "tear down this wall!"?
"Tear down this wall!" is a famous excerpt from the Berlin Wall Speech, uttered in 1987 by then President Reagan, giving his support to dismantle the barrier separating East and West Berlin.
Which article of the Constitution enumerates how to add amendments?
Article V details how amendments can be added to the constitution. It can be done via a National Convention or by a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress.
Which state provides the most amount of Representatives to the House of Representatives?
California, having the largest proportion of the U.S.'s population, has the greatest amount of United States Representatives in Congress.
Which President never married?
Buchanan's niece acted as his first lady during his presidency.
Which piece of landmark legislation created many of the social services that exist today?
FDR created the New Deal to establish programs that expanded the federal government to protect individuals during a challenging economic time.
How many voting members of Congress exist today?
There are 435 voting members of the House of Representatives and 100 voting members of the Senate.
How many times can Congress pass a Budget Reconciliation Bill per year?
Budget Reconciliation is a parliamentary procedure to bypass a Filibuster and can be done once per budgetary principle--revenue, spending, and debt limit--per year.
Which of these localities does not have a voting member of Congress?
There are 6 total non-voting members of Congress, most of which are U.S. territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico.
Which Senator notoriously read Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham during a Filibuster?
Ted Cruz infamously filibusted the passage of ObamaCare by reading Doctor Seuss stories.
What was the last state to join The Union?
Hawaii was added to Union in 1959, marking it as the last state to do so.
Which of the following was not a U.S. political party of history?
The United States has two dominant parties today, but historically has had many fringe and small labor parties.
How many years long is the term for members of the House of Representatives?
The term of a Representative is explicitly limited to two years per the Constitution.
Which president oversaw the dropping of nuclear bombs on Imperial Japan?
Truman is the sole president to drop a nuclear weapon onto the sole of foreign countries.
If a President does not sign a piece of passed legislation within 10 days, what occurs?
If a bill goes unsigned while the Congress adjourns, the bill experiences a pocket veto, blocking congress from executing the veto override process.
Which state is notoriously known for the creation of the practice of Gerrymandering?
The Boston Gazette coined the term in 1812 regarding the practice of the Massachusetts race having voting districts redrawn to, provoking ire from then Governor Gerry, and appeared to look like a Salamander.
What is the only state in the Union to have a unicameral congress?
Nebraska is the only state in the whole country to feature just a single congressional chamber.
Which U.S. President was assassinated near Dealey Plaza in Dallas Texas?
President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while sitting in a convertible in Dallas, Texas.
Which President pushed an agenda of "Manifest Destiny"?
Polk became President in 1844 after pushing for the US to acquire more land. During his Presidency he helped to grow the US from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.
Which U.S. president is the sole executive to start a fourth term?
FDR began his fourth and died nearly 60 days into it. He's the only president to serve three full terms.
Which president established the interstate system?
President Eisenhower signed the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, spawning the interstate system known today.