Politics can be confusing, but riddles can help make it more fun! Here are 83 riddles about politics with answers to test your political knowledge.
Politics Riddles
Riddles about Political Systems
1. What political system gives all the power to the people?
Answer: Democracy
2. What political system is ruled by a king or queen?
Answer: Monarchy
3. What political system has power in the hands of a few people?
Answer: Oligarchy
4. What political system has power in the hands of one person?
Answer: Autocracy or dictatorship
5. What political system has power shared between regional and central governments?
Answer: Federalism
Riddles about Political Parties
6. What political party uses the symbol of a donkey?
Answer: Democratic Party
7. What political party uses the symbol of an elephant?
Answer: Republican Party
8. What American political party was the first to nominate a woman for President?
Answer: Democratic Party
9. What American political party was founded earlier, Democratic or Republican?
Answer: Democratic Party
10. What American third party had Ross Perot as its presidential candidate in 1992 and 1996?
Answer: Reform Party
Riddles about Political Figures
11. Which U.S. first lady chaired the task force that introduced the universal health care plan in 1993?
Answer: Hillary Clinton
12. Who was the only U.S. president to resign from office?
Answer: Richard Nixon
13. Who was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher
14. Who was the president during the Great Depression and World War II?
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt
15. Who was the American vice president who shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel?
Answer: Aaron Burr
Riddles about Government
16. Part of the government that has the power to make laws?
Answer: Legislative branch
17. Part of the government that can declare laws unconstitutional?
Answer: Judicial branch
18. Part of the government that enforces and carries out laws?
Answer: Executive branch
19. What do you call constitutional changes to give more rights to citizens?
Answer: Amendments
20. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
Answer: The Preamble
Riddles about Political Terms
21. A tax on imports from other countries?
Answer: Tariff
22. Government spending more money than it receives?
Answer: Budget deficit
23. An official trip taken by the President?
Answer: State visit
24. The President’s official home?
Answer: White House
25. An idea that forms the basis of political policy?
Answer: Political ideology
Riddles about Elections
26. Custom of voting for candidates from a single political party?
Answer: Party loyalty
27. A vote on a single political issue?
Answer: Referendum
28. Campaigning for candidates seeking political office?
Answer: Stumping
29. Going from one region to another to gain voter support?
Answer: Whistle-stop tour
30. A final, decisive election to pick a party’s candidate?
Answer: Nomination
Riddles about Congress
31. Meeting of all members of Congress to conduct official business?
Answer: Session
32. Official record of proceedings of Congress?
Answer: Congressional Record
33. Rule requiring debate on bill to end after certain time?
Answer: Cloture
34. Congressperson who has served the longest time?
Answer: Senior member
35. Short recess when Congress is in session?
Answer: Intrasession recess
Riddles about the Senate
36. Official presiding over the Senate who casts tie-breaking votes?
Answer: Vice President
37. Senator belonging to majority party elected by caucus?
Answer: Majority leader
38. Review of presidential appointments to executive and judicial branch?
Answer: Confirmation
39. Trial of president accused of misconduct?
Answer: Impeachment
40. Formal agreement between two-thirds of senators to end debate?
Answer: Cloture
Riddles about the House of Representatives
41. Presiding officer of the House elected by members?
Answer: Speaker of the House
42. Representative from the majority party who helps schedule legislation?
Answer: Majority leader
43. Only power of the Vice President in the House?
Answer: Cast tie-breaking votes
44. House members grouped by similar geographical location?
Answer: Delegations
45. Action by the House to formally charge a public official?
Answer: Impeachment
Riddles about Lobbying
46. Legal attempt to influence policies and positions of officials?
Answer: Lobbying
47. People paid to lobby government officials?
Answer: Lobbyists
48. Laws restricting employment of former officers as lobbyists?
Answer: Cooling-off period laws
49. Required public report of lobbying activities?
Answer: Lobbyist disclosure report
50. Act of giving gifts to influence officials’ votes?
Answer: Bribery
Riddles about Political Scandals
51. 1970s political scandal involving spying on opponents?
Answer: Watergate
52. Scandal of secret arms sales to Iran to fund Nicaraguan rebels?
Answer: Iran-Contra affair
53. Scandal of President Clinton lying about relations with Monica Lewinsky?
Answer: Lewinsky scandal
54. Scandal involving corrupt public officials in 1920s?
Answer: Teapot Dome scandal
55. Scandal of administration favors for cash contributions?
Answer: Pay-to-play
Riddles about Political History
56. Agreement to free all slaves after Civil War ended?
Answer: Emancipation Proclamation
57. Doctrine of favoring American interests over foreign intervention?
Answer: Monroe Doctrine
58. Policy of racial segregation laws in the American South?
Answer: Jim Crow laws
59. Law imposing annual limits on immigration?
Answer: Immigration Quota Act
60. System of US foreign alliances during Cold War?
Answer: NATO
Riddles about Political Issues
61. View that less government produces freer individuals?
Answer: Libertarianism
62. Belief in traditional values and limited government?
Answer: Conservatism
63. View emphasizing equality and social justice?
Answer: Liberalism
64. System where government promotes public welfare?
Answer: Socialism
65. Policy of using force to expand political interests?
Answer: Imperialism
Logic Puzzles about Politics
66. Mary hates politics. Susan loves politics. Mary and Susan are sisters. If you hate what your sister loves, who hates politics?
Answer: Susan
67. Some senators play tennis. No tennis players are Republicans. Pete is a senator who plays tennis. What is Pete’s party affiliation?
Answer: Democrat
68. Republicans drink coffee or tea. Democrats drink water or juice. If Thad only drinks coffee, what party does he likely belong to?
Answer: Republican Party
69. All politicians who take bribes are dishonest. Sam is not dishonest. Does Sam take bribes?
Answer: No
70. No Badger Party members are in favor of tax hikes. Flora is in favor of tax hikes. What can you conclude about Flora?
Answer: She is not a member of the Badger Party
What Am I? Riddles about Politics
71. I’m a political party that began in 1854. The symbol of my party is an elephant. Who am I?
Answer: Republican Party
72. I’m a political party that began in 1828. The symbol of my party is a donkey. Who am I?
Answer: Democratic Party
73. I am the elected leader of the city government. Who am I?
Answer: Mayor
74. I am a document outlining the principles of a political party. Who am I?
Answer: Party platform
75. I’m a political system where the citizens hold power. Who am I?
Answer: Democracy
Riddles about International Politics
76. What global organization has its headquarters in New York?
Answer: United Nations
77. What continent has the most countries?
Answer: Africa
78. What country has won the most Nobel Peace Prizes?
Answer: The United States
79. What country has the most people?
Answer: China
80. What continent is the smallest by land area?
Answer: Australia
Tricky Riddles about Politics
81. Arnold, Bill, Claire, and Dan are members of rival political parties. Arnold never aligns with Claire on votes. Bill never aligns with Dan on votes. Who are most likely in the same party?
Answer: Bill and Claire
82. Lyle is taller than Keith. Keith is shorter than Tom. Mark is taller than Lyle. Who is the shortest?
Answer: Keith
83. Four candidates participated in a primary debate – Johnson, Miller, Clark and Adams. Johnson accused the most people of political corruption. Miller accused more people than Clark. Clark accused more people than Adams. Who accused the second most?
Answer: Clark
Conclusion
Politics doesn’t have to be bewildering – riddles can make it fun while expanding your knowledge. Test your political wit with these 83 riddles and their answers about political systems, figures, history and more. Riddles engage your critical thinking skills, whether you solve them alone or make it a social game with friends and family. Learning through play sticks with you longer than cramming dry facts. Hopefully these political riddles have sharpened your thinking and recall of key civic concepts and details.
