WGU C963 American politics and
US Constitution Questions and
Answers 100% PASS
Social Contract—ANSWER--An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to being governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights—ANSWER--the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the
right to life, liberty, and property
State of Nature—ANSWER--A theory on how people might have lived before societies came
into existence. is a condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily, prior to the
existence of society. We are physically and mentally capable of achieving our own survival.
Montesquieu (1689-1755)—ANSWER--contribution in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) regards
the structure of political institutions. He argues for a separation of powers: legislative,
executive, and judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the
harm each might do. separates power to offset the power of different social interests:
ordinary people, the aristocracy, and the monarch.
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. Hobbes argues that
society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. We
,do this to resolve problems we collectively face, to make our lives better. State of Nature: it's
"a war of all against all." Basically, the state of nature is a pretty nasty place where lives are
perpetually insecure.
John Locke (1632-1704)—ANSWER--we are autonomous individuals, capable of using
reason, and are driven to advance our personal interests. Our primary interest is survival,
which we want to make secure and comfortable. To achieve this security and comfort, we
acquire property. Two Treatises of Government, disagrees, saying the state of nature is a
relatively decent place. All its inhabitants are rational people, mindful of the basic law of
nature to not harm another, and people will get along okay. But our relationship in the state
of nature is "inconvenient," implying an incentive for us to devise a better, more convenient
arrangement.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)—ANSWER--A French man who believed that humans
are naturally good and free and can rely on their instincts. He also advocated a democracy
because he believed the government should exist to protect common good. Like other
Enlightenment thinkers, he was passionately committed to individual freedom, but he
attacked rationalism and civilization as destroying, rather than liberating, the individual. He
also called for a rigid division of gender roles, believing women should be subordinate in
social life. His ideals greatly influenced the early romantic movement, which rebelled against
the culture of the Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century. Rousseau was both one of
the most influential voices of the Enlightenment and, in his rejection of rationalism and
social discourse, a harbinger of reaction against Enlightenment ideas.
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
,Constitution is influenced by the Enlightenment—ANSWER--(Separation of powers)
embodies Montesquieu's principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial
power, placing each into the hands of different political actors.
Bill of Rights influenced by Enlightenment—ANSWER--· The First Amendment gives us a
definitive declaration for the protection of natural rights. Protections of individual
conscience as well as protections for democratic participation (John Lock ideology).
· The Second Amendment, which also embodies Lockean ideas, permits the possession of
arms for the "security of a free State."14 In this Amendment, the right to rebellion is
established.
· Due process says all citizens are subject to fair and equitable treatment.
· The Fourth - Eighth Amendments serve to both limit the power government has over us
and lay out procedures which must be followed when dealing with us.
· The Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the list of rights protected in the first eight
Amendments is not exhaustive and that we, the people, can assert additional natural rights
when we see fit (at least in theory.)
, · The Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not specifically granted to the federal
government are retained by the states and the people (these last two are Lockean ideals)
Declaration of Independence influenced by Enlightenment—ANSWER--Locke maintains that
society is a rational but voluntary expression. Government, which serves to regulate the
terms of the social contact on which society is created, serves to protect our natural rights
and serve as a democratic conduit for our interests. Most important of our natural rights are
liberty and property.
National Government under the Articles of Confederation—ANSWER--unicameral congress,
or one chamber known as the Confederation Congress. no executive or judicial branch.
Functions in order to make sure that the national government did not have too much power
and that the power of the states remained protected. had the authority to exchange
ambassadors and make treaties with foreign governments and Indian tribes, declare war,
coin currency and borrow money, and settle disputes between states. Each state legislature
appointed delegates to the Congress; these men could be recalled at any time. Regardless of
its size or the number of delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one vote.
Delegates could serve for no more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite
professional politicians develop. The nation would have no independent chief executive or
judiciary. Nine votes were required before the central government could act, and the Articles
of Confederation could be changed only by unanimous approval of all 13 states.
Powers under the Articles of Confederation (national government):—ANSWER--The Power to
Borrow and Coin Money
The Power to Declare War
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
US Constitution Questions and
Answers 100% PASS
Social Contract—ANSWER--An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to being governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights—ANSWER--the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the
right to life, liberty, and property
State of Nature—ANSWER--A theory on how people might have lived before societies came
into existence. is a condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily, prior to the
existence of society. We are physically and mentally capable of achieving our own survival.
Montesquieu (1689-1755)—ANSWER--contribution in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) regards
the structure of political institutions. He argues for a separation of powers: legislative,
executive, and judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the
harm each might do. separates power to offset the power of different social interests:
ordinary people, the aristocracy, and the monarch.
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. Hobbes argues that
society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. We
,do this to resolve problems we collectively face, to make our lives better. State of Nature: it's
"a war of all against all." Basically, the state of nature is a pretty nasty place where lives are
perpetually insecure.
John Locke (1632-1704)—ANSWER--we are autonomous individuals, capable of using
reason, and are driven to advance our personal interests. Our primary interest is survival,
which we want to make secure and comfortable. To achieve this security and comfort, we
acquire property. Two Treatises of Government, disagrees, saying the state of nature is a
relatively decent place. All its inhabitants are rational people, mindful of the basic law of
nature to not harm another, and people will get along okay. But our relationship in the state
of nature is "inconvenient," implying an incentive for us to devise a better, more convenient
arrangement.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)—ANSWER--A French man who believed that humans
are naturally good and free and can rely on their instincts. He also advocated a democracy
because he believed the government should exist to protect common good. Like other
Enlightenment thinkers, he was passionately committed to individual freedom, but he
attacked rationalism and civilization as destroying, rather than liberating, the individual. He
also called for a rigid division of gender roles, believing women should be subordinate in
social life. His ideals greatly influenced the early romantic movement, which rebelled against
the culture of the Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century. Rousseau was both one of
the most influential voices of the Enlightenment and, in his rejection of rationalism and
social discourse, a harbinger of reaction against Enlightenment ideas.
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
,Constitution is influenced by the Enlightenment—ANSWER--(Separation of powers)
embodies Montesquieu's principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial
power, placing each into the hands of different political actors.
Bill of Rights influenced by Enlightenment—ANSWER--· The First Amendment gives us a
definitive declaration for the protection of natural rights. Protections of individual
conscience as well as protections for democratic participation (John Lock ideology).
· The Second Amendment, which also embodies Lockean ideas, permits the possession of
arms for the "security of a free State."14 In this Amendment, the right to rebellion is
established.
· Due process says all citizens are subject to fair and equitable treatment.
· The Fourth - Eighth Amendments serve to both limit the power government has over us
and lay out procedures which must be followed when dealing with us.
· The Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the list of rights protected in the first eight
Amendments is not exhaustive and that we, the people, can assert additional natural rights
when we see fit (at least in theory.)
, · The Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not specifically granted to the federal
government are retained by the states and the people (these last two are Lockean ideals)
Declaration of Independence influenced by Enlightenment—ANSWER--Locke maintains that
society is a rational but voluntary expression. Government, which serves to regulate the
terms of the social contact on which society is created, serves to protect our natural rights
and serve as a democratic conduit for our interests. Most important of our natural rights are
liberty and property.
National Government under the Articles of Confederation—ANSWER--unicameral congress,
or one chamber known as the Confederation Congress. no executive or judicial branch.
Functions in order to make sure that the national government did not have too much power
and that the power of the states remained protected. had the authority to exchange
ambassadors and make treaties with foreign governments and Indian tribes, declare war,
coin currency and borrow money, and settle disputes between states. Each state legislature
appointed delegates to the Congress; these men could be recalled at any time. Regardless of
its size or the number of delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one vote.
Delegates could serve for no more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite
professional politicians develop. The nation would have no independent chief executive or
judiciary. Nine votes were required before the central government could act, and the Articles
of Confederation could be changed only by unanimous approval of all 13 states.
Powers under the Articles of Confederation (national government):—ANSWER--The Power to
Borrow and Coin Money
The Power to Declare War
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
