AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION - C963 WGU EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS|VERIFIED & ALREADY
GRADED A+
Most Studied | Updated
WESTERN GOVERNOR’S UNIVERSITY
2026 VERSION
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
#Bright_minds #stuvia@2026
, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
natrual rights. ANSWER - Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke. ANSWER - 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right
of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.
State of Nature. ANSWER - Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of
government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process. ANSWER - involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly.
Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can be exercised over
the individual, making the power differential between the two more fair, and ensuring a
general sense of political equality
Social Contract. ANSWER - A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their
rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). ANSWER - One of the first individuals to contribute to the
idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes. ANSWER - Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement. ANSWER - the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the
workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution. ANSWER - A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights. ANSWER - The first ten amendments to the Constitution
,Declaration of Independence. ANSWER - the document recording the proclamation of the
second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from
Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson. ANSWER - Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787). ANSWER - which almost resulted in potential mob rule,
suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that maybe individual liberty
was going too far
Articles of Confederation. ANSWER - A weak constitution that governed America during
the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51. ANSWER - Argues that separation of powers within the national
government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one
person or a single group.
First Amendment. ANSWER - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment. ANSWER - Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment. ANSWER - The government may not house soldiers in private homes
without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment. ANSWER - It protects people against unfair searches of their homes;
search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment. ANSWER - A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights
of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-
incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment. ANSWER - Right to a speedy and public trial
, Seventh Amendment. ANSWER - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment. ANSWER - No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment. ANSWER - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment. ANSWER - Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the
federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature. ANSWER - A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives
and The Senate.
House of Representatives. ANSWER - the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of representatives from each state, depending on population
New Jersey Plan. ANSWER - Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan. ANSWER - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention. ANSWER - Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of
the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature. ANSWER - One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise. ANSWER - Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths
of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances. ANSWER - A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
CONSTITUTION - C963 WGU EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS|VERIFIED & ALREADY
GRADED A+
Most Studied | Updated
WESTERN GOVERNOR’S UNIVERSITY
2026 VERSION
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
#Bright_minds #stuvia@2026
, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
natrual rights. ANSWER - Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke. ANSWER - 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right
of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.
State of Nature. ANSWER - Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of
government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process. ANSWER - involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly.
Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can be exercised over
the individual, making the power differential between the two more fair, and ensuring a
general sense of political equality
Social Contract. ANSWER - A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their
rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). ANSWER - One of the first individuals to contribute to the
idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes. ANSWER - Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement. ANSWER - the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the
workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution. ANSWER - A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights. ANSWER - The first ten amendments to the Constitution
,Declaration of Independence. ANSWER - the document recording the proclamation of the
second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from
Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson. ANSWER - Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787). ANSWER - which almost resulted in potential mob rule,
suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that maybe individual liberty
was going too far
Articles of Confederation. ANSWER - A weak constitution that governed America during
the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51. ANSWER - Argues that separation of powers within the national
government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one
person or a single group.
First Amendment. ANSWER - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment. ANSWER - Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment. ANSWER - The government may not house soldiers in private homes
without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment. ANSWER - It protects people against unfair searches of their homes;
search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment. ANSWER - A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights
of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-
incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment. ANSWER - Right to a speedy and public trial
, Seventh Amendment. ANSWER - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment. ANSWER - No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment. ANSWER - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment. ANSWER - Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the
federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature. ANSWER - A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives
and The Senate.
House of Representatives. ANSWER - the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of representatives from each state, depending on population
New Jersey Plan. ANSWER - Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan. ANSWER - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention. ANSWER - Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of
the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature. ANSWER - One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise. ANSWER - Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths
of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances. ANSWER - A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
