Government Before and After Trivia Quiz

Answer: Prime

Past one's prime
Prime Minister

Past one's prime is an expression meaning that someone or something once great is no longer such.

A prime minister is the leader of a Cabinet in a parliamentary style government. Usually, the prime minister is the head of government of the country he or she governs.

Answer: Monarch

Reigning monarch
Monarch butterfly

A reigning monarch is a king, queen or other member of royalty who is currently in change of a kingdom. Depending on the exact system of government, the reigning monarch might just be a ceremonial position. In some countries, the monarch plays a significant role in the day to day governing of a country.

Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable butterfly species in the world. They have orange and black wings and are found all over North America.

Answer: College

Electoral College
College of Cardinals

An electoral college is a system for electing officials in some jurisdictions. In an electoral college system, voters vote for electors who then select the candidate of their choice for the office on the ballot. The Electoral College is most famously and controversially used to elect the President of the United States but is also used elsewhere.

The College of Cardinals is a group of cardinals from around the world who elect the pope in a papal conclave.

Answer: Congress

Act of Congress
Congress gaiter

An act of Congress is a term that refers to a bill passed by a national Congress. It can be either a law or a declaration celebrating an event or something else.

Congress gaiters are shoes that come up to the ankle and allow for flexibility. They were so named because they used to be popular with members of the U.S. Congress.

Answer: Special

It's nothing special
Special election

"It's nothing special" is a phrase used to describe something that is just average.


A special election is an election that occurs outside of the normal schedule. Typically, a special election is called when politicians die, resign or take another office or job. Special election laws vary jurisdiction by jurisdiction and are called by-elections in some places.

Answer: Duck

Lame duck
Duck à l'orange

A lame duck refers to someone who is still in office but their successor has been chosen. Lame ducks are seen to be less powerful and influential than normal. Lame duck is a phrase typically associated with a head of state but can also be used to describe a Congress or Parliament especially if one party loses control in the previous election.

Duck à l'orange is a classic French dish. It consists of a roasted duck and an orange sauce. The recipe for duck à l'orange varies quite a bit depending on where in the world you are.

Answer: Leader

Majority Leader
Leader of the Pack

The Majority Leader is the person selected by his or her party to lead a body of Congress or Parliament. The position has different names depending on the country. Typically, he or she is responsible for determining which pieces of legislation or nominations come up for a vote as well as many other rules.

Leader of the pack is an expression used to describe someone who is control of a group of people, either formally or informally. It is also a popular song by the Shangri-Las.

Answer: Power

Peaceful transfer of power
Power bars

The peaceful transfer of power is an idea in democratic nations when one party cedes power to another. In stable democracies, this is done peacefully so as to give legitimacy to the new government. If power is not transferred peacefully, it can lead to claims of illegitimacy and civil unrest.

Power bars are snacks that are designed to boost one's energy. Power bars can be made from a variety of ingredients including granola, dried fruits and nuts.

Answer: Motion

Cloture motion
Motion picture

A cloture motion is filed in some legislative bodies when someone wants to end a debate on a subject and move on to a vote. The cloture motion must be agreed to be a certain number of legislators otherwise the debate continues. (the number of which varies depending on the rules and type of legislation). An act to prolong the debate is called a filibuster.


Motion picture is another name for a film or movie. The Oscars are given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Answer: Consent

Advise and consent
Consent decree

Advise and consent is a power certain legislative bodies have in regards to executive appointments and nominations. When the an executive nominates someone to a position, legislators have the right accept or reject such person. Legislators also typically offer advice on which candidates should be nominated for positions.

A consent decree is a legal document in which someone accepts responsibility for an action but does not admit guilt and agrees to remedy such wrongdoing. Sometimes, consent decrees are confidential and not released to the public.