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. The party who answers a complaint and defends against it






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






3. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






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






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






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






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






10. Another name for the courts of appeals






11. A team of executive branch officials






12. The people a lawmaker represents






13. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






14. Formal agreements between nations






15. The authority to hear a case first






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






17. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






19. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






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






22. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






23. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






27. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






28. Proposed law






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






30. Plan for raising and spending money






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






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






33. 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






34. The authority to hear an appeal






35. The area that a member of the House represents






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