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. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






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






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






6. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






7. Formal agreements between nations






8. The official representatives to foreign governments






9. The people a lawmaker represents






10. People who represent interest groups






11. 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






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






13. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






14. Proposed law






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






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






17. An important group of policy advisers to the President






18. Plan for raising and spending money






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






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






21. The authority to hear an appeal






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






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






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






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






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






27. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






29. The authority to hear a case first






30. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






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






32. A team of executive branch officials






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






34. The area that a member of the House represents






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






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