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






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






3. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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






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






7. The people a lawmaker represents






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






9. The official representatives to foreign governments






10. Proposed law






11. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






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






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






15. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






18. A team of executive branch officials






19. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






20. People who represent interest groups






21. The authority to hear a case first






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






23. The authority to hear an appeal






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






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






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






27. An important group of policy advisers to the President






28. The area that a member of the House represents






29. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






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






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






33. Plan for raising and spending money






34. Formal agreements between nations






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






36. 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