What part of the federal government writes laws?

On the 2008 test

The 2008 test asks this as Question 16: “Who makes federal laws?”

Answers listed for the 2008 question (3), next to the 3 above. Compare them before you study from an older list.

• Congress
• Senate and House (of Representatives)
• (U.S. or national) legislature

Background

Congress makes federal laws. It is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Lawmaking rests with elected representatives, keeping the power to write law close to the people.

From this site's page for 2008 Question 16.

The 65/20 special consideration

Question 18 is not one of the 20 asterisked questions, so an applicant who qualifies for the 65/20 special consideration would not be asked it. Everyone else studies all 128.

Answers that get mixed up with this one

These are the wrong options the 2025 practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different 2025 question.

• (Because of) the 22nd Amendmentanswers Question 37: The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?
• The President (of the United States)answers Question 42: Who is Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
• Reviews lawsanswers Question 51: What does the judicial branch do?

More System of Government questions

• Question 16: Name the three branches of government.Legislative, executive, and judicial · Congress, president, and the courts
• Question 17: The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?Executive branch
• Question 19: What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?Senate and House (of Representatives)
• Question 20: Name one power of the U.S. Congress.Writes laws · Declares war · Makes the federal budget
• Question 21: How many U.S. senators are there?One hundred (100)