The following nouns are usually singular. (If the individual members are acting separately, they are plural and take plural verb.) : Congress, Family, Group, Committee, Class, Organisation, Team, Army, Club, Crowd Government, Jury, Minority, Public]
Ex.- The family was happy at the news.
The family were fighting over inheritance.
Our team is certain to win the match.
The committee have arrived by different trains.
The crowd was wild with excitement.