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






2. The authority to hear an appeal






3. The people a lawmaker represents






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






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






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






7. Plan for raising and spending money






8. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






10. Another name for the courts of appeals






11. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






12. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






14. A team of executive branch officials






15. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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






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






26. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






27. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






28. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






32. The area that a member of the House represents






33. Formal agreements between nations






34. The authority to hear a case first






35. Proposed law






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