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 right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts






2. The people a lawmaker represents






3. A team of executive branch officials






4. The official representatives to foreign governments






5. An important group of policy advisers to the President






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






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






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






9. The area that a member of the House represents






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






11. The presiding officer over the House of Representatives






12. Plan for raising and spending money






13. People who represent interest groups






14. Formal agreements between nations






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






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






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






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






19. Another name for the courts of appeals






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






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






22. A set of plans for dealing with national problems






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






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






25. 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






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






27. Proposed law






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






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






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






31. The authority to hear a case first






32. A written statement explaining the reasons for the decision






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






34. Agreement to end the debate on a bill






35. The authority to hear an appeal






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