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






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






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






4. 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






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






6. The people a lawmaker represents






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






8. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






10. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






12. The authority to hear an appeal






13. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






15. The authority to hear a case first






16. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






18. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






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






21. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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






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






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






26. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






27. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






30. People who represent interest groups






31. Formal agreements between nations






32. Proposed law






33. The area that a member of the House represents






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






35. Plan for raising and spending money






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