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






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






3. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






5. The official representatives to foreign governments






6. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






7. An important group of policy advisers to the President






8. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






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






11. Proposed law






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






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






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






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






16. Formal agreements between nations






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






18. People who represent interest groups






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






20. The people a lawmaker represents






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






22. Plan for raising and spending money






23. 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






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






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






26. The area that a member of the House represents






27. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






29. The authority to hear a case first






30. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






31. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






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






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






36. The authority to hear an appeal