C963 American Politics-WGU Questions with Verified Answers
(Correct Update)
Question 1: Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the American
Revolution?
Answer: Social Contract
Question 2: How does the Bill of Rights reflect the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the
Constitution?
Answer: The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms
Question 3: What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: The national government did not have the power to impose taxes
Question 4: What describes Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution?
Answer: Slave owners could reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled
Question 5: What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and the
Anti-Federalists?
Answer: Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist favored strong
state governments
Question 6: How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of checks and
balances?
Answer: The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict the
other branches' powers
Question 7: What describes the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of
Confederation?
Answer: It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government
Question 8: Which major compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention?
Answer: The proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5)
Page 1
, Question 9: What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10?
Answer: The diverse interests of the people would prevent the development of powerful political
parties
Question 10: What is a primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress?
Answer: It is used to determine the number of House representatives for each state
Question 11: Which describes the purpose of Congressional appropriations committees?
Answer: They recommended how specific funds are allocated
Question 12: Which power is assigned to the House under the Constitution?
Answer: Originating congressional spending bills
Question 13: What is an example of checks and balances between the executive and legislative
branches of government?
Answer: The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee
Question 14: Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress?
Answer: Appointing cabinet members
Question 15: Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives?
Answer: Andrew Johnson for firing his secretary of war
Question 16: What is true about the U.S. court system?
Answer: It is a dual system with a federal court system and courts in each state
Question 17: Which type of power is a state's right to tax?
Answer: A concurrent power
Question 18: What is an example of a state exercising a concurrent power?
Answer: Issuing bonds to fund an infrastructure project
Page 2
(Correct Update)
Question 1: Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the American
Revolution?
Answer: Social Contract
Question 2: How does the Bill of Rights reflect the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the
Constitution?
Answer: The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms
Question 3: What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: The national government did not have the power to impose taxes
Question 4: What describes Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution?
Answer: Slave owners could reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled
Question 5: What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and the
Anti-Federalists?
Answer: Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist favored strong
state governments
Question 6: How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of checks and
balances?
Answer: The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict the
other branches' powers
Question 7: What describes the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of
Confederation?
Answer: It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government
Question 8: Which major compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention?
Answer: The proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5)
Page 1
, Question 9: What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10?
Answer: The diverse interests of the people would prevent the development of powerful political
parties
Question 10: What is a primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress?
Answer: It is used to determine the number of House representatives for each state
Question 11: Which describes the purpose of Congressional appropriations committees?
Answer: They recommended how specific funds are allocated
Question 12: Which power is assigned to the House under the Constitution?
Answer: Originating congressional spending bills
Question 13: What is an example of checks and balances between the executive and legislative
branches of government?
Answer: The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee
Question 14: Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress?
Answer: Appointing cabinet members
Question 15: Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives?
Answer: Andrew Johnson for firing his secretary of war
Question 16: What is true about the U.S. court system?
Answer: It is a dual system with a federal court system and courts in each state
Question 17: Which type of power is a state's right to tax?
Answer: A concurrent power
Question 18: What is an example of a state exercising a concurrent power?
Answer: Issuing bonds to fund an infrastructure project
Page 2
