WGU C963 American Politics & US Constitution OA (pdf) | 2026/2027
| Objective
1. Which of the following best defines the concept of natural rights as
understood by the Founders?
A) Rights granted by the government that can be revoked at any time
B) Rights inherent to all human beings that government cannot legitimately
take away
C) Rights that are determined by majority vote in a democratic society
D) Rights that apply only to citizens who own property
Correct Answer: Rights inherent to all human beings that government cannot
legitimately take away
Rationale: Natural rights are fundamental rights believed to be inherent to all
people and not subject to government infringement. John Locke's philosophy
of natural rights—life, liberty, and property—directly influenced the
Declaration of Independence and the American founding.
2. The social contract theory, as articulated by John Locke, posits that:
A) Government is imposed by a monarch who derives authority from divine
right
B) Citizens consent to be governed in exchange for the government's
protection of their natural rights
C) Government exists only to maintain order through strict enforcement of
laws
D) Citizens have no rights that the government is obligated to protect
Correct Answer: Citizens consent to be governed in exchange for the
government's protection of their natural rights
,Rationale: The social contract is an agreement between people and
government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the
government protects their natural rights. This theory was foundational to the
American founding.
3. According to Thomas Hobbes, life in the "state of nature" would be:
A) Peaceful and cooperative
B) A "war of all against all," making life solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short
C) Governed by natural laws that promote harmony
D) Characterized by equality and mutual respect
Correct Answer: A "war of all against all," making life solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short
Rationale: Hobbes argued that in the state of nature—without government—
life would be chaotic and dangerous. This led him to conclude that a powerful
sovereign (Leviathan) was necessary to maintain order.
4. The English Bill of Rights (1689) influenced the American founding by
establishing which principle?
A) The right to bear arms
B) The prohibition of a standing army during peacetime
C) Limits on the monarch's power and the protection of parliamentary rights
D) The establishment of a written constitution
Correct Answer: Limits on the monarch's power and the protection of
parliamentary rights
,Rationale: The English Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarchy and
affirmed the rights of Parliament, influencing American ideas about limited
government and individual liberties.
5. The Mayflower Compact (1620) is historically significant because it
established:
A) The first written constitution for a colony
B) The principle of self-government through the consent of the governed
C) The separation of church and state
D) The right to trial by jury
Correct Answer: The principle of self-government through the consent of the
governed
Rationale: The Mayflower Compact was signed by the Pilgrims, who agreed
to form a civil government and obey its laws. It is a direct example of social
contract theory in practice.
6. Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas about the separation of powers
most directly influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution?
A) John Locke
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) Montesquieu
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Correct Answer: Montesquieu
Rationale: Montesquieu's ideas about separating governmental powers into
legislative, executive, and judicial branches were foundational to the
, Constitution. While Locke's ideas influenced the Declaration, Montesquieu's
procedural rights framework underlies the Constitution.
7. Thomas Jefferson's phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in
the Declaration of Independence was adapted from the writings of which
philosopher?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Locke
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Montesquieu
Correct Answer: John Locke
Rationale: Locke wrote of "life, liberty, and property." Jefferson substituted
"pursuit of happiness" but retained Locke's natural rights philosophy.
8. Which of the following was a major weakness of the Articles of
Confederation?
A) The national government could declare war
B) The national government could not levy taxes directly
C) The national government could borrow money
D) The national government could make treaties
Correct Answer: The national government could not levy taxes directly
Rationale: Under the Articles, Congress could request funds from states but
could not compel payment or levy direct taxes, leading to chronic
underfunding.
| Objective
1. Which of the following best defines the concept of natural rights as
understood by the Founders?
A) Rights granted by the government that can be revoked at any time
B) Rights inherent to all human beings that government cannot legitimately
take away
C) Rights that are determined by majority vote in a democratic society
D) Rights that apply only to citizens who own property
Correct Answer: Rights inherent to all human beings that government cannot
legitimately take away
Rationale: Natural rights are fundamental rights believed to be inherent to all
people and not subject to government infringement. John Locke's philosophy
of natural rights—life, liberty, and property—directly influenced the
Declaration of Independence and the American founding.
2. The social contract theory, as articulated by John Locke, posits that:
A) Government is imposed by a monarch who derives authority from divine
right
B) Citizens consent to be governed in exchange for the government's
protection of their natural rights
C) Government exists only to maintain order through strict enforcement of
laws
D) Citizens have no rights that the government is obligated to protect
Correct Answer: Citizens consent to be governed in exchange for the
government's protection of their natural rights
,Rationale: The social contract is an agreement between people and
government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the
government protects their natural rights. This theory was foundational to the
American founding.
3. According to Thomas Hobbes, life in the "state of nature" would be:
A) Peaceful and cooperative
B) A "war of all against all," making life solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short
C) Governed by natural laws that promote harmony
D) Characterized by equality and mutual respect
Correct Answer: A "war of all against all," making life solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short
Rationale: Hobbes argued that in the state of nature—without government—
life would be chaotic and dangerous. This led him to conclude that a powerful
sovereign (Leviathan) was necessary to maintain order.
4. The English Bill of Rights (1689) influenced the American founding by
establishing which principle?
A) The right to bear arms
B) The prohibition of a standing army during peacetime
C) Limits on the monarch's power and the protection of parliamentary rights
D) The establishment of a written constitution
Correct Answer: Limits on the monarch's power and the protection of
parliamentary rights
,Rationale: The English Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarchy and
affirmed the rights of Parliament, influencing American ideas about limited
government and individual liberties.
5. The Mayflower Compact (1620) is historically significant because it
established:
A) The first written constitution for a colony
B) The principle of self-government through the consent of the governed
C) The separation of church and state
D) The right to trial by jury
Correct Answer: The principle of self-government through the consent of the
governed
Rationale: The Mayflower Compact was signed by the Pilgrims, who agreed
to form a civil government and obey its laws. It is a direct example of social
contract theory in practice.
6. Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas about the separation of powers
most directly influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution?
A) John Locke
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) Montesquieu
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Correct Answer: Montesquieu
Rationale: Montesquieu's ideas about separating governmental powers into
legislative, executive, and judicial branches were foundational to the
, Constitution. While Locke's ideas influenced the Declaration, Montesquieu's
procedural rights framework underlies the Constitution.
7. Thomas Jefferson's phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in
the Declaration of Independence was adapted from the writings of which
philosopher?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Locke
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Montesquieu
Correct Answer: John Locke
Rationale: Locke wrote of "life, liberty, and property." Jefferson substituted
"pursuit of happiness" but retained Locke's natural rights philosophy.
8. Which of the following was a major weakness of the Articles of
Confederation?
A) The national government could declare war
B) The national government could not levy taxes directly
C) The national government could borrow money
D) The national government could make treaties
Correct Answer: The national government could not levy taxes directly
Rationale: Under the Articles, Congress could request funds from states but
could not compel payment or levy direct taxes, leading to chronic
underfunding.
