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 presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






3. Proposed law






4. The area that a member of the House represents






5. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






6. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






8. People who represent interest groups






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






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






11. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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






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






15. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






25. The authority to hear a case first






26. The authority to hear an appeal






27. Plan for raising and spending money






28. Formal agreements between nations






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






30. The people a lawmaker represents






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






33. An important group of policy advisers to the President






34. Another name for the courts of appeals






35. A team of executive branch officials






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