WGU C963 Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Natural Rights - CORRECT ANSWER The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be
given by God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - CORRECT ANSWER A theory on how people might have lived before
societies came into existence.
Due Process - CORRECT ANSWER The requirement that government, when dealing with
people, have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER An agreement between people and government in
which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - CORRECT ANSWER Coherent philosophies about the structure, power,
and purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - CORRECT ANSWER A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
Popular Vote - CORRECT ANSWER An election in which the winner is determined by the
number of individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would
be elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house
would be chosen by the lower house.
New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER A plan that called for a one-house national
legislature; each state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A
compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature;
, representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states
in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER A compromise between northern and
southern states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave
population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress.
Veto - CORRECT ANSWER The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER A system that allows one branch of government
to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work
together..
Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER The sharing of powers among three separate
branches of government.
Federal System - CORRECT ANSWER A form of government which power is divided
between state governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - CORRECT ANSWER The powers given explicitly to the federal
government by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support
armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
Reserved Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or
delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal
government.
Political Ideologies - CORRECT ANSWER Coherent philosophies about the structure, power,
and purpose of government.
Ratification - CORRECT ANSWER The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty,
contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - CORRECT ANSWER A system of government in which power is given to the
people through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Natural Rights - CORRECT ANSWER The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be
given by God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - CORRECT ANSWER A theory on how people might have lived before
societies came into existence.
Due Process - CORRECT ANSWER The requirement that government, when dealing with
people, have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER An agreement between people and government in
which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - CORRECT ANSWER Coherent philosophies about the structure, power,
and purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - CORRECT ANSWER A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
Popular Vote - CORRECT ANSWER An election in which the winner is determined by the
number of individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would
be elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house
would be chosen by the lower house.
New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER A plan that called for a one-house national
legislature; each state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A
compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature;
, representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states
in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER A compromise between northern and
southern states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave
population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress.
Veto - CORRECT ANSWER The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER A system that allows one branch of government
to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work
together..
Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER The sharing of powers among three separate
branches of government.
Federal System - CORRECT ANSWER A form of government which power is divided
between state governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - CORRECT ANSWER The powers given explicitly to the federal
government by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support
armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
Reserved Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or
delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal
government.
Political Ideologies - CORRECT ANSWER Coherent philosophies about the structure, power,
and purpose of government.
Ratification - CORRECT ANSWER The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty,
contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - CORRECT ANSWER A system of government in which power is given to the
people through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
