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 take an active role in policymaking by overturning laws relatively often






2. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






4. People who represent interest groups






5. The authority to hear an appeal






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






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






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






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






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






12. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






14. A team of executive branch officials






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






16. The authority to hear a case first






17. The people a lawmaker represents






18. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






19. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






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






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






24. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






25. Plan for raising and spending money






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






27. Formal agreements between nations






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






29. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






31. Proposed law






32. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






34. The area that a member of the House represents






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






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