WGU C963 AMERICAN POLITICS. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the American
Revolution? - ANS Social Contract
How does the Bill of Rights reflect the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the Constitution?
- ANS The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms
What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation? - ANS The national
government did not have the power to impose taxes
What describes Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution? - ANS Slave owners could
reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled
What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and the Anti-
Federalists? - ANS Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist
favored strong state governments
How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of checks and balances? -
ANS The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict
the other branches' powers
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What describes the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANS It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central
government
Which major compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention? - ANS The
proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5)
What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10? - ANS The diverse interests of the people
would prevent the development of powerful political parties
What is a primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress? - ANS It is used to
determine the number of House representatives for each state
Which describes the purpose of Congressional appropriations committees? - ANS They
recommended how specific funds are allocated
Which power is assigned to the House under the Constitution? - ANS Originating
congressional spending bills
What is an example of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of
government? - ANS The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee
Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress? - ANS Appointing cabinet members
Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives? - ANS Andrew Johnson for
firing his secretary of war
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is true about the U.S. court system? - ANS It is a dual system with a federal court
system and courts in each state
Which type of power is a state's right to tax? - ANS A concurrent power
What is an example of a state exercising a concurrent power? - ANS Issuing bonds to fund an
infrastructure project
How does apportionment influence the makeup of Congress? - ANS It determines the
allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the equal proportions method
What is the general purpose of the president making recess appointments? - ANS To fill
cabinet vacancies while bypassing Senate approval
What describes the Supreme Court's use of the judicial principal of stare decisis? - ANS The
Supreme Court's precedents are treated as established law
What was the significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland? - ANS It
established a loose constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause
What is an example of a state exercising its reserve power? - ANS Establishing laws to
regulate businesses in the state
Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract? - ANS A collective expression
of a collectively shared interest, A definition of human nature, A specification of natural right
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? - ANS The
state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human and gives definition to natural
rights
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? - ANS It
explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others and it helps to frame the type of
social contract that is needed to make individual life better
What is the purpose of a social contract? - ANS To acknowledge and protect natural rights
What is an important weakness of a social contract? - ANS Social contracts require consensus
Which statements are true about natural rights? - ANS They let you do what you need to
survive and be secure and they impart an equality of being among all people
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? - ANS Is a thought experiment
upon which a definition of proper society and government are built and permits a philosophical
definition of human nature
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? - ANS Uniformity of ability and
purpose among those who agree to the social contract and Consensus among those whom the
social contract applies to
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? - ANS Society is not natural, but
created by the people.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? - ANS Human Nature and
Natural Rights
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the American
Revolution? - ANS Social Contract
How does the Bill of Rights reflect the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the Constitution?
- ANS The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms
What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation? - ANS The national
government did not have the power to impose taxes
What describes Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution? - ANS Slave owners could
reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled
What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and the Anti-
Federalists? - ANS Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist
favored strong state governments
How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of checks and balances? -
ANS The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict
the other branches' powers
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What describes the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANS It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central
government
Which major compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention? - ANS The
proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5)
What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10? - ANS The diverse interests of the people
would prevent the development of powerful political parties
What is a primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress? - ANS It is used to
determine the number of House representatives for each state
Which describes the purpose of Congressional appropriations committees? - ANS They
recommended how specific funds are allocated
Which power is assigned to the House under the Constitution? - ANS Originating
congressional spending bills
What is an example of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of
government? - ANS The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee
Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress? - ANS Appointing cabinet members
Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives? - ANS Andrew Johnson for
firing his secretary of war
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is true about the U.S. court system? - ANS It is a dual system with a federal court
system and courts in each state
Which type of power is a state's right to tax? - ANS A concurrent power
What is an example of a state exercising a concurrent power? - ANS Issuing bonds to fund an
infrastructure project
How does apportionment influence the makeup of Congress? - ANS It determines the
allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the equal proportions method
What is the general purpose of the president making recess appointments? - ANS To fill
cabinet vacancies while bypassing Senate approval
What describes the Supreme Court's use of the judicial principal of stare decisis? - ANS The
Supreme Court's precedents are treated as established law
What was the significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland? - ANS It
established a loose constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause
What is an example of a state exercising its reserve power? - ANS Establishing laws to
regulate businesses in the state
Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract? - ANS A collective expression
of a collectively shared interest, A definition of human nature, A specification of natural right
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? - ANS The
state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human and gives definition to natural
rights
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? - ANS It
explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others and it helps to frame the type of
social contract that is needed to make individual life better
What is the purpose of a social contract? - ANS To acknowledge and protect natural rights
What is an important weakness of a social contract? - ANS Social contracts require consensus
Which statements are true about natural rights? - ANS They let you do what you need to
survive and be secure and they impart an equality of being among all people
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? - ANS Is a thought experiment
upon which a definition of proper society and government are built and permits a philosophical
definition of human nature
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? - ANS Uniformity of ability and
purpose among those who agree to the social contract and Consensus among those whom the
social contract applies to
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? - ANS Society is not natural, but
created by the people.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? - ANS Human Nature and
Natural Rights
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
