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. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






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






6. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






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






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






11. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






13. Plan for raising and spending money






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






15. Proposed law






16. The authority to hear an appeal






17. 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






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






19. Formal agreements between nations






20. The people a lawmaker represents






21. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






23. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






25. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






28. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






29. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






30. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






34. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






36. The area that a member of the House represents