WGU C963 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE:
AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION (VERIFIED AND
CORRECT Q & A) SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED 2026/2027
1. Which Enlightenment philosopher’s concept of ‘natural rights’—life, liberty, and
property—heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of
Independence?
A. Thomas Hobbes
B. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C. Baron de Montesquieu
D. John Locke
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government argued that
individuals have inherent rights that the government must protect, forming the basis for
American democratic thought.
2. What was the primary structural weakness of the national government under the Articles
of Confederation?
A. The executive branch was too powerful.
,B. The central government had too much control over state militias.
C. The judiciary frequently overturned state laws.
D. The national government lacked the power to tax or regulate interstate commerce.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government was
intentionally weak, lacking the authority to raise revenue directly or manage trade
between states.
3. Shays’ Rebellion was significant because it demonstrated that:
A. The state of Massachusetts was prepared for an insurrection.
B. The Articles of Confederation were unable to maintain civil order and security.
C. The British were still a threat to the inland territories.
D. Farmers were satisfied with the new tax policies.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The inability of the national government to respond to the
uprising in Massachusetts highlighted the need for a stronger central authority, leading to
the Constitutional Convention.
4. The ‘Great Compromise’ (Connecticut Compromise) at the Constitutional Convention
resolved the conflict between large and small states by:
A. Establishing a unicameral legislature based on population.
, B. Creating a bicameral legislature with one house based on population and the other with
equal representation.
C. Allowing the President to be elected by direct popular vote.
D. Counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Great Compromise merged the Virginia Plan (proportional
representation) and the New Jersey Plan (equal representation) to create the House and
Senate.
5. James Madison argued in Federalist No. 10 that the best way to control the ‘mischiefs of
faction’ was to:
A. Outlaw political parties and interest groups.
B. Create a large republic where many interests would compete.
C. Establish a small, direct democracy.
D. Give the executive branch the power to suppress dissent.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Madison argued that in a large republic, the diversity of interests
would prevent any single faction from gaining total control and oppressing the minority.
AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION (VERIFIED AND
CORRECT Q & A) SATISFACTION
GUARANTEED 2026/2027
1. Which Enlightenment philosopher’s concept of ‘natural rights’—life, liberty, and
property—heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of
Independence?
A. Thomas Hobbes
B. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C. Baron de Montesquieu
D. John Locke
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government argued that
individuals have inherent rights that the government must protect, forming the basis for
American democratic thought.
2. What was the primary structural weakness of the national government under the Articles
of Confederation?
A. The executive branch was too powerful.
,B. The central government had too much control over state militias.
C. The judiciary frequently overturned state laws.
D. The national government lacked the power to tax or regulate interstate commerce.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government was
intentionally weak, lacking the authority to raise revenue directly or manage trade
between states.
3. Shays’ Rebellion was significant because it demonstrated that:
A. The state of Massachusetts was prepared for an insurrection.
B. The Articles of Confederation were unable to maintain civil order and security.
C. The British were still a threat to the inland territories.
D. Farmers were satisfied with the new tax policies.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The inability of the national government to respond to the
uprising in Massachusetts highlighted the need for a stronger central authority, leading to
the Constitutional Convention.
4. The ‘Great Compromise’ (Connecticut Compromise) at the Constitutional Convention
resolved the conflict between large and small states by:
A. Establishing a unicameral legislature based on population.
, B. Creating a bicameral legislature with one house based on population and the other with
equal representation.
C. Allowing the President to be elected by direct popular vote.
D. Counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Great Compromise merged the Virginia Plan (proportional
representation) and the New Jersey Plan (equal representation) to create the House and
Senate.
5. James Madison argued in Federalist No. 10 that the best way to control the ‘mischiefs of
faction’ was to:
A. Outlaw political parties and interest groups.
B. Create a large republic where many interests would compete.
C. Establish a small, direct democracy.
D. Give the executive branch the power to suppress dissent.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Madison argued that in a large republic, the diversity of interests
would prevent any single faction from gaining total control and oppressing the minority.
