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. The party who answers a complaint and defends against it






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






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






5. A team of executive branch officials






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






7. The authority to hear an appeal






8. Formal agreements between nations






9. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






11. The people a lawmaker represents






12. Plan for raising and spending money






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






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






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






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






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






18. People who represent interest groups






19. The authority to hear a case first






20. The area that a member of the House represents






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






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






23. Proposed law






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






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






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






27. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






28. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






29. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






31. 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






32. Another name for the courts of appeals






33. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






35. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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