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. Appellate courts which handle appeals from the federal district courts






2. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






5. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






6. People who represent interest groups






7. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






9. 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






10. The official representatives to foreign governments






11. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






20. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






22. Proposed law






23. The people a lawmaker represents






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






25. The authority to hear an appeal






26. A team of executive branch officials






27. Plan for raising and spending money






28. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






30. The area that a member of the House represents






31. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






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






35. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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