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 chief officers of the majority and minority parties in each house






2. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






3. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






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






6. The authority to hear a case first






7. Plan for raising and spending money






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






9. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






11. Proposed law






12. The authority to hear an appeal






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






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






15. The area that a member of the House represents






16. 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






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






18. The official representatives to foreign governments






19. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






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






22. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






24. People who represent interest groups






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






26. The people a lawmaker represents






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






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






29. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






32. An important group of policy advisers to the President






33. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






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