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. Proposed law






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






3. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






5. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






8. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






10. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






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






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






14. Plan for raising and spending money






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






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






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






18. The people a lawmaker represents






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






20. Another name for the courts of appeals






21. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






22. Formal agreements between nations






23. The authority to hear an appeal






24. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






28. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






31. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






32. 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






33. The area that a member of the House represents






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






35. A team of executive branch officials






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