Fun Political Trivia

Here are some questions to expand your mind on political and policy issues. For reprint, in part or in full, contact the author. Reprints cost only 50c.

What are the three Federal officials who are elected to 4-year terms?
There are 542 elected officials in the Federal Government- the President, the Vice President, 100 Senators, 435 Congressmen, 4 Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. The President and Vice President are elected on the same ticket to a 4-year term. The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico also serves a 4-year term, and fills duties similar to the Delegates from other territories.

Which feature movie starred two future Governors?
The 1987 action movie Predator starred Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggar of California and Gov. Jesse Ventura of Minnesota.

What are the four states officially known as commonwealths?
Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands are also known as commonwealths, but their status is below that of a state. A modern Commonwealth is identical to a state, but during the Colonial period it was different. Many colonies were set up for the personal profit of shareholders, while others had a broader economic and societal mission. Commonwealth Colonies granted ownership of all public property to landowning citizens.

What Amendment to the Constitution had the longest gap between its proposal and ratification?
The 27^th Amendment was ratified 203 years after it was first proposed. Ratified in 1992, it lay dormant until a University of Texas student rediscovered it while researching constitutional history. The 27^th Amendment prohibits any Congressional pay raises from taking effect until there has been an intervening election. It is also the most recent addition to the Constitution.

The House of Representatives currently has 435 members. What is the largest number of Congressmen in history?
437. In 1959, the House was expanded to give one representative each to Alaska and Hawaii when those states were admitted to the Union. The House returned to 435 members following the 1962 elections because new apportionment data was available from the Census. Congress can vote to change its size at any time.

Which state has the best ratio of residents to Members of Congress?
Wyoming, which has one Member of Congress (two Senators and one Representative) for every 171,668 people.

Which current members of the House were elected to replace a deceased spouse?
Congresswomen Jo Ann Emerson (R-VA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Mary Bono (R-CA), and Doris Matsui (D-CA)

What are the four Universities to graduate both a Super Bowl-winning Quarterback and a President of the United States?
Stanford University- Herbert Hoover and John Elway
Miami University of Ohio- Benjamin Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger
United States Naval Academy- Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach
University of Michigan- Gerald Ford and Tom Brady