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 set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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






5. Plan for raising and spending money






6. The authority to hear an appeal






7. The people a lawmaker represents






8. Another name for the courts of appeals






9. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






12. The area that a member of the House represents






13. Formal agreements between nations






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






15. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






17. 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






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






19. Proposed law






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






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






22. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






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






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






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






28. The official representatives to foreign governments






29. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






33. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






35. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






36. Agreement to end the debate on a bill