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. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






2. A team of executive branch officials






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






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






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






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






7. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






8. The authority to hear an appeal






9. 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






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






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






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






13. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






15. The official representatives to foreign governments






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






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






18. Plan for raising and spending money






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






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






21. People who represent interest groups






22. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






25. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






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






29. The area that a member of the House represents






30. The authority to hear a case first






31. Proposed law






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






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






34. The people a lawmaker represents






35. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






36. An important group of policy advisers to the President