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 people a lawmaker represents






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






3. People who represent interest groups






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






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






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






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






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






9. A team of executive branch officials






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






11. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






12. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






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






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






16. The area that a member of the House represents






17. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






18. The authority to hear a case first






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






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






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






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






23. An important group of policy advisers to the President






24. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






27. Proposed law






28. Formal agreements between nations






29. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






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






31. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






34. The authority to hear an appeal






35. Plan for raising and spending money






36. 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