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. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






4. An important group of policy advisers to the President






5. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






7. The authority to hear an appeal






8. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






9. Proposed law






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






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






12. Plan for raising and spending money






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






14. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






15. The area that a member of the House represents






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






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






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






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






20. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






23. The people a lawmaker represents






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






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






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






27. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






30. Another name for the courts of appeals






31. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






32. People who represent interest groups






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






35. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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