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 use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill






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






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






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






5. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






7. Plan for raising and spending money






8. The area that a member of the House represents






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






10. People who represent interest groups






11. The authority to hear an appeal






12. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






14. The people a lawmaker represents






15. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






16. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






18. 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






19. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






20. A team of executive branch officials






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






22. The official representatives to foreign governments






23. The authority to hear a case first






24. Formal agreements between nations






25. Proposed law






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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