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






2. Another name for the courts of appeals






3. The authority to hear a case first






4. A team of executive branch officials






5. The authority to hear an appeal






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






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






8. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






10. Formal agreements between nations






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






12. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






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






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






16. The people a lawmaker represents






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






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






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






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






21. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






22. 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






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






24. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






26. Proposed law






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






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






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






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






31. The official representatives to foreign governments






32. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






34. People who represent interest groups






35. The area that a member of the House represents






36. Plan for raising and spending money