Test your basic knowledge |

Civics: Federal Government

Subject : civics
Instructions:
  • Answer 36 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Another name for the courts of appeals






2. An important group of policy advisers to the President






3. An officer who will preside over the Senate when the Vice President is absent






4. Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals






5. A law that convicts a person of a crime without a trial






6. An effort by judges to avoid overturning laws and to leave policymaking up to the other two branches of government






7. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






8. Appellate courts which handle appeals from the federal district courts






9. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






10. Formal agreements between nations






11. Plan for raising and spending money






12. People who represent interest groups






13. An individual or group of people who bring a complaint against another party






14. The party who answers a complaint and defends against it






15. A team of executive branch officials






16. A guideline for how all similar cases should be decided in the future






17. Proposed law






18. The use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill






19. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






20. One of the ways a President can veto a bill - by pocketing or keeping the bill for ten days during which Congress ends its session






21. An organization of government departments - agencies - and offices






22. The people a lawmaker represents






23. The power to overturn any law that the Court decides is in conflict with the Constitution






24. A government body that brings a criminal charge against a defendant Who is accused of breaking one of its laws






25. The chief officers of the majority and minority parties in each house






26. Agreements with other countries that do not need Senate approval






27. The right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts






28. The authority to hear a case first






29. The branch of government responsible for executing - or carrying out - the law






30. The set of plans for guiding our nation's relationship with other countries






31. To ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done






32. The official representatives to foreign governments






33. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






34. An effort by judges to take an active role in policymaking by overturning laws relatively often






35. The authority to hear an appeal






36. The area that a member of the House represents