WGU C963 Court Exam Review Study Questions/Answers Graded A+
2025/2026
New Jersey Plan - A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state
would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - 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 - 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 - The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - 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 - The sharing of powers among three separate branches of
government.
Federal System - A form of government which power is divided between state
governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - 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 - 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 - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Ratification - The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or
agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - A system of government in which power is given to the people through their
ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
, The Federalist Papers - A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying
the Constitution.
Faction - A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - A process of removing government officials suspected of criminal
activity, including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House
of Representatives to accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must
then vote to remove the person.
Executive Orders - Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the force
of law.
Inherent Power - The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a
direct result of the country's existence.
Oversight - The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch.
Committees - A small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching,
introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - Spending that can be altered from year to year through the
appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - A model of what the government plans to spend and take in as
revenue over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary
spending limits.
Pork-barrel Spending - Spending on often unnecessary local projects that benefit a
specific member of Congress' district or state.
Line-item Veto - The ability of the President to reject specific portions of a piece of
legislation rather than reject an entire piece of legislation. Ruled unconstitutional by the
US Supreme Court.
Interstate Commerce Clause - Enumerated power of Congress to regulate commerce
and trade that occurs between two or more states.
Legal Tender Act - Act passed in 1862 that allowed Congress the ability to produce
paper notes of money not guaranteed by gold or silver.
Federal Reserve System - The central banking system of the United States that sets
monetary policies and bank regulations.
2025/2026
New Jersey Plan - A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state
would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - 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 - 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 - The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - 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 - The sharing of powers among three separate branches of
government.
Federal System - A form of government which power is divided between state
governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - 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 - 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 - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Ratification - The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or
agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - A system of government in which power is given to the people through their
ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
, The Federalist Papers - A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying
the Constitution.
Faction - A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - A process of removing government officials suspected of criminal
activity, including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House
of Representatives to accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must
then vote to remove the person.
Executive Orders - Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the force
of law.
Inherent Power - The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a
direct result of the country's existence.
Oversight - The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch.
Committees - A small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching,
introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - Spending that can be altered from year to year through the
appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - A model of what the government plans to spend and take in as
revenue over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary
spending limits.
Pork-barrel Spending - Spending on often unnecessary local projects that benefit a
specific member of Congress' district or state.
Line-item Veto - The ability of the President to reject specific portions of a piece of
legislation rather than reject an entire piece of legislation. Ruled unconstitutional by the
US Supreme Court.
Interstate Commerce Clause - Enumerated power of Congress to regulate commerce
and trade that occurs between two or more states.
Legal Tender Act - Act passed in 1862 that allowed Congress the ability to produce
paper notes of money not guaranteed by gold or silver.
Federal Reserve System - The central banking system of the United States that sets
monetary policies and bank regulations.
