WGU C963 - Learning Checks & Quizzes
1. What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves
and the government?: A social contract
2. According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society?:
So- ciety is the product of human desire and effort
3. Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important
protec- tions under the social contract?: Liberty and property
4. Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of
nature?: The state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational
human beings
5. According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over
its citizens under the social contract?: Limited authority, the social
contract should provide a society in which the society has no more
power than is necessary to regulate the natural rights and co-
existence of its citizens
6. Describe the characteristics of a social contract.: A social contract is a
collective expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of
human nature, and a specification of natural rights.
7. In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social
,contract?: Society should be a reflection of what it means to be
human, and natural rights must be acknowledged and protected in
a social contract.
8. Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state
of nature?: How bad or good life is in the state of nature will guide
the need to
cooperate with others, and the subsequent social contract will help
overcome the drawbacks experienced in the state of nature.
9. What is the purpose of a social contract?: Social contracts are
created to acknowledge and protect natural rights.
10.What is an important weakness of a social contract?: Social
contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any
society.
11.What do natural rights let you do?: Natural rights let you do what you
need to survive and be secure, and they impart an equality of all
people.
12.What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for?:
- Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human
nature and argued for a proper society and government based on that
nature.
13.What conditions are required for a social contract to work?: The
conditions needed for a social contract to work include consensus
among those involved in the social contract and a uniformity of ability
and purpose among those who agree to it.
,14.What does the theory of a social contract acknowledge?: The social
con- tract acknowledges that the people are in relationship with the
government and there are obligations the citizens have to a society.
15.What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with?: The
social contract recognizes both human nature and natural rights and
when constructed, natural rights are a central part because they are
too important to our individual lives.
16.What natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of
Indepen- dence?: Liberty. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of
Independence based on the ideas of John Locke who argued that one
of our most important natural rights is liberty.
17.Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the
potential harm of the national government over the people?: Separation of
Powers. By separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power
and placing each branch into the control of different political actors
this would prevent govern- ment tyranny over the people by limiting
the harm any one branch might do on its own.
18.Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances
the national government and prevents any one section of government from
having sole/complete power?: Checks and Balances. Prevents any one
branch from gaining complete power and control over the government
by allowing each branch to monitor and influence what happens in the
other branches.
19.Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and
, pro- vides Montesquieu's protections known as due process of law?:
The Bill of Rights. This addition to the Constitution focuses on
protecting the liberties
or freedoms by protecting such rights as freedom of speech and
providing due process.
20.Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majori-
ty?: The Constitution. The potential for the tyranny of factional majority
was a key consideration at the time of the drafting of the Constitution.
21.What is the Enlightenment?: A period of Western European history
following the Middle Ages (1650-1800) that occurred mainly in Great
Britain, France, and Germany. Its philosophy produced the idea of
natural rights.
22.Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and
govern- ment?: Those who settled the American colonies were
seeking freedom and opportunity, and Locke's ideas about the
consent to be governed and the right
1. What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves
and the government?: A social contract
2. According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society?:
So- ciety is the product of human desire and effort
3. Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important
protec- tions under the social contract?: Liberty and property
4. Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of
nature?: The state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational
human beings
5. According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over
its citizens under the social contract?: Limited authority, the social
contract should provide a society in which the society has no more
power than is necessary to regulate the natural rights and co-
existence of its citizens
6. Describe the characteristics of a social contract.: A social contract is a
collective expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of
human nature, and a specification of natural rights.
7. In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social
,contract?: Society should be a reflection of what it means to be
human, and natural rights must be acknowledged and protected in
a social contract.
8. Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state
of nature?: How bad or good life is in the state of nature will guide
the need to
cooperate with others, and the subsequent social contract will help
overcome the drawbacks experienced in the state of nature.
9. What is the purpose of a social contract?: Social contracts are
created to acknowledge and protect natural rights.
10.What is an important weakness of a social contract?: Social
contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any
society.
11.What do natural rights let you do?: Natural rights let you do what you
need to survive and be secure, and they impart an equality of all
people.
12.What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for?:
- Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human
nature and argued for a proper society and government based on that
nature.
13.What conditions are required for a social contract to work?: The
conditions needed for a social contract to work include consensus
among those involved in the social contract and a uniformity of ability
and purpose among those who agree to it.
,14.What does the theory of a social contract acknowledge?: The social
con- tract acknowledges that the people are in relationship with the
government and there are obligations the citizens have to a society.
15.What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with?: The
social contract recognizes both human nature and natural rights and
when constructed, natural rights are a central part because they are
too important to our individual lives.
16.What natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of
Indepen- dence?: Liberty. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of
Independence based on the ideas of John Locke who argued that one
of our most important natural rights is liberty.
17.Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the
potential harm of the national government over the people?: Separation of
Powers. By separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power
and placing each branch into the control of different political actors
this would prevent govern- ment tyranny over the people by limiting
the harm any one branch might do on its own.
18.Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances
the national government and prevents any one section of government from
having sole/complete power?: Checks and Balances. Prevents any one
branch from gaining complete power and control over the government
by allowing each branch to monitor and influence what happens in the
other branches.
19.Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and
, pro- vides Montesquieu's protections known as due process of law?:
The Bill of Rights. This addition to the Constitution focuses on
protecting the liberties
or freedoms by protecting such rights as freedom of speech and
providing due process.
20.Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majori-
ty?: The Constitution. The potential for the tyranny of factional majority
was a key consideration at the time of the drafting of the Constitution.
21.What is the Enlightenment?: A period of Western European history
following the Middle Ages (1650-1800) that occurred mainly in Great
Britain, France, and Germany. Its philosophy produced the idea of
natural rights.
22.Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and
govern- ment?: Those who settled the American colonies were
seeking freedom and opportunity, and Locke's ideas about the
consent to be governed and the right
