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. 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






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






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






4. An important group of policy advisers to the President






5. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. Proposed law






13. The people a lawmaker represents






14. A team of executive branch officials






15. The authority to hear an appeal






16. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






19. The area that a member of the House represents






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






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






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






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






24. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






26. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






27. Plan for raising and spending money






28. People who represent interest groups






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






30. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






32. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






33. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






36. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives