WGU C963 Exam Questions With Answers Latest Update 2023/2024 | 100% VERIFIED

What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation? The national government did not have the power to impose taxes What describes Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution? Slave owners could reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist favored strong state governments How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of checks and balances? The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict the other branches' powers What describes the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation? It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government Which major compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention? The proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5) What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10? The diverse interests of the people would prevent the development of powerful political parties What is a primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress? It is used to determine the number of House representatives for each state Which describes the purpose of Congressional appropriations committees? They recommended how specific funds are allocated Which power is assigned to the House under the Constitution? Originating congressional spending bills What is an example of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of government? The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress? Appointing cabinet members Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives? Andrew Johnson for firing his secretary of war What is true about the U.S. court system? It is a dual system with a federal court system and courts in each state Which type of power is a state's right to tax? A concurrent power What is an example of a state exercising a concurrent power? Issuing bonds to fund an infrastructure project How does apportionment influence the makeup of Congress? It determines the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the equal proportions method What is the general purpose of the president making recess appointments? To fill cabinet vacancies while bypassing Senate approval What describes the Supreme Court's use of the judicial principal of stare decisis? The Supreme Court's precedents are treated as established law What was the significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland? It established a loose constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause What is an example of a state exercising its reserve power? Establishing laws to regulate businesses in the state Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract? A collective expression of a collectively shared interest, A definition of human nature, A specification of natural right In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human and gives definition to natural rights Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? It explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others and it helps to frame the type of social contract that is needed to make individual life better What is the purpose of a social contract? To acknowledge and protect natural rights What is an important weakness of a social contract? Social contracts require consensus Which statements are true about natural rights? They let you do what you need to survive and be secure and they impart an equality of being among all people Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? Is a thought experiment upon which a definition of proper society and government are built and permits a philosophical definition of human nature What conditions are required for a social contract to work? Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract and Consensus among those whom the social contract applies to Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? Society is not natural, but created by the people. What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? Human Nature and Natural Rights Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the time of the Articles of Confederation? Since the national government lacked the ability to tax its citizens, foreign governments feared that the national government would not be able to repay the loans. What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation? Congress could not enlist men for a national army. Why did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government? The colonists/citizens of the United States were afraid of a strong central government. What was one reason why it was necessary to replace the Articles of Confederation? The United States lacked the military forces to defend the new country. What powers did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation? The power to settle disputes among different states, the power to declare war, the power to borrow and coin money Ultimately, why did the Articles of Confederation fail? It harmed the international reputation of the United States, It weakened the economy of the United States, It weakened the powers of the national government too much. The power to draft soldiers under the Articles of Confederation required the national government to do which of the following? Appoint senior officials and ask states to send troops anytime they wanted to engage in war. What debate did the Great Compromise settle so that the Constitutional Convention could continue? The Great Compromise settled the debate between the large states and small states over state representation in the legislative branch. How do checks and balances keep the branches of government from abusing its power? Checks and balances allow each branch of government the ability to restrict other branches of government. Checks and balances require the different branches of government to work together. Several mechanisms were put into place to satisfy the fears of those who felt that if the Constitution gave the national government more power, it would be able to abuse its power and the rights of the people. Which is not one of those mechanisms? The Supremacy Clause The Senate has equal representation regardless of population of the state. New Jersey Plan State governments still given sovereignty over their individual states. New Jersey Plan Bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers. Virginia Plan Senators are appointed rather than popularly elected. Virginia Plan The House of Representatives has state representation that varies based on the size of a state's population. Virginia Plan The National government given increased powers. Virginia Plan How was slavery involved in the Constitutional Convention? Representatives from the North were adamant that slaves not be counted towards a state's population while Southerners insisted that they be counted. Which is not an accurate example of checks and balances in the national government? Congress has the power to declare laws and actions by the executive branch as unconstitutional. What are specific powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution? The power to regulate trade and commerce The power to tax The power to declare war The power to lay and collect taxes Legislative Branch The power to declare war Legislative Branch The power to remove a president from office Legislative Branch The power to veto laws passed by Congress Executive Branch The power to declare laws unconstitutional Judicial Branch To reinforce the representational differences in the national bicameral legislature, the Great Compromise required that: Members of the House of Representatives be selected by the voters, and members of the Senate be selected by the state legislatures. The most important structural outcome of the Great Compromise was: The creation of a bicameral national legislature, with each chamber representing a different type of political actor. The Three-Fifths Compromise worked to: Increase the representation of Southern states in the House of Representatives. Which of these options helped the Federalists gain more support for their theories of a representative government with increased national powers? The Federalist Papers Which is not a reason James Madison found it necessary to write Federalist, no. 51? Madison wrote Federalist, no. 51 to make states understand that there was no way to prevent the government from becoming tyrannical and abusing its people. In Federalist no. 51, Madison argues for the division of government authority to each branch of government. What is this known as? Separation of powers Which statement is true regarding the federal system of government? Federalist systems work best In countries that are large and diverse Which statement about federal and unitary systems is most accurate? In a federal system, powers are divided between states and national governments. In a unitary system, all power is held within the national government. Which of these correctly describes the process of redistricting? Redistricting is a complex process that is subject to constitutional restraints. Why is the census an important factor in American politics? The census determines how many seats each state will get in the House of Representatives, and consequently, how many votes each state will get in the Electoral College. For what reason were majority-minority districts created? Majority-minority districts were created to avoid gerrymanders that diluted the voting power of minorities. What is one goal for the use of gerrymanders? Gerrymanders dilute the power of the minority party by concentrating supporters in one or a few districts. What determines the number of members in the House of Representatives? The number is determined by law. How does the census affect the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives? Due to changes in population, some states gain seats and other states lose seats. Which statement is the most accurate concerning the need for states to draw new district boundaries after each census? Almost all states have to redraw boundaries since each Congressional district must have approximately an equal number of people. Which presidential power has the most limitations? he presidential power with the most limitations is appointing people to government positions. Which of the powers below was given to the president by the Founding Fathers? The power to command the armed forces of the United States What is a key element of a new president's transition into office? Indicating to foreign leaders which executive agreements s/he will continue to honor What did the Founding Fathers want from the office of the president? The Founding Fathers wanted an executive leader with enough power to lead, but they also wanted to avoid an all-powerful monarchy. Of the choices below, which is most consistently a key presidential adviser, from president to president? Whomever the president chooses to rely upon Which of the presidents below relied most on his vice president for advice? George W. Bush and Dick Cheney In 2005, President George Bush appointed John Bolton the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations while the Senate wasn't in session. This is an example of: A recess appointment What is used to prevent presidential recess appointments? Pro forma sessions of the Senate How long is the so-called "honeymoon period" for new presidents? The first 100 days after the inauguration Which of the following is not an example of how the courts play a role in the system of checks and balances? Proposed legislation is reviewed by the courts to determine if it is constitutional. How did the Fourteenth Amendment change the interpretation of the Constitution? It led to greater involvement by federal courts in areas previously reserved to the states. Which branch of government has the primary role of interpreting the Constitution? The courts How is the Supremacy Clause connected to the power of the courts? The Supremacy Clause asserts that the Constitution is the highest law in the land and courts may need to interpret the meaning of the Constitution to resolve a case. How was the Necessary and Proper Clause used to expand the powers of the federal government? The Necessary and Proper Clause provided the federal government with powers not stated in the Constitution. Why are the cases McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden important to the development of the American Federalist system? Both cases helped to increase the powers of the federal government. Both cases explained specific expressed powers of the federal government. Which clauses did the Supreme Court use In McCulloch v. Maryland, to expand the power of the federal government? Supremacy Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause How did the Supreme Court interpret the Necessary and Proper Clause in McCulloch v. Maryland? It recognized that Congress could create a national bank even though it did not have an enumerated power to do so. How does the district me