WGU C963 Final Exam (Latest 2024/ 2025 Update)
American Politics and the US Constitution| Questions and
Verified Answers| Grade A| 100% Correct
Natural Rights - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given
by God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A theory on how people might have lived before societies
came into existence.
Due Process - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The requirement that government, when dealing with people,
have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
,Popular Vote - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----An election in which the winner is determined by the number
of individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be
elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would
be chosen by the lower house.
New Jersey Plan - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A plan that called for a one-house national legislature;
each state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A
compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature;
representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states
in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A compromise between northern and southern
states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for
both federal taxation and representation in Congress.
Veto - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A system that allows one branch of government to
limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work
together..
Separation of Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The sharing of powers among three separate
branches of government.
Federal System - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A form of government which power is divided between
state governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The powers given explicitly to the federal government
by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies,
declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
,Reserved Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or
delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal
government.
Political Ideologies - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Ratification - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty,
contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A system of government in which power is given to the people
through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to know, before a judge, why you have been
detained.
The Federalist Papers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor
of ratifying the Constitution.
Faction - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A process of removing government officials suspected of
criminal activity, including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House of
Representatives to accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must then vote to remove
the person.
Executive Orders - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have
the force of law.
Inherent Power - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed
to exist as a direct result of the country's existence.
, Oversight - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the
executive branch.
Committees - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A small set of representatives tasked with considering,
researching, introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Spending that can be altered from year to year
through the appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A model of what the government plans to spend and
take in as revenue over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary
spending limits.
Pork-barrel Spending - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Spending on often unnecessary local projects that
benefit a specific member of Congress' district or state.
Line-item Veto - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The ability of the President to reject specific portions of a
piece of legislation rather than reject an entire piece of legislation. Ruled unconstitutional by the US
Supreme Court.
Interstate Commerce Clause - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Enumerated power of Congress to regulate
commerce and trade that occurs between two or more states.
Legal Tender Act - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Act passed in 1862 that allowed Congress the ability to
produce paper notes of money not guaranteed by gold or silver.
Federal Reserve System - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The central banking system of the United States
that sets monetary policies and bank regulations.
Advice and Consent - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for
executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties
become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
American Politics and the US Constitution| Questions and
Verified Answers| Grade A| 100% Correct
Natural Rights - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given
by God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A theory on how people might have lived before societies
came into existence.
Due Process - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The requirement that government, when dealing with people,
have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
,Popular Vote - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----An election in which the winner is determined by the number
of individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be
elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would
be chosen by the lower house.
New Jersey Plan - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A plan that called for a one-house national legislature;
each state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A
compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature;
representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states
in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A compromise between northern and southern
states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for
both federal taxation and representation in Congress.
Veto - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A system that allows one branch of government to
limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work
together..
Separation of Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The sharing of powers among three separate
branches of government.
Federal System - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A form of government which power is divided between
state governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The powers given explicitly to the federal government
by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies,
declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
,Reserved Powers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or
delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal
government.
Political Ideologies - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Ratification - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty,
contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A system of government in which power is given to the people
through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to know, before a judge, why you have been
detained.
The Federalist Papers - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor
of ratifying the Constitution.
Faction - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A process of removing government officials suspected of
criminal activity, including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House of
Representatives to accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must then vote to remove
the person.
Executive Orders - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have
the force of law.
Inherent Power - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed
to exist as a direct result of the country's existence.
, Oversight - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the
executive branch.
Committees - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A small set of representatives tasked with considering,
researching, introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Spending that can be altered from year to year
through the appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----A model of what the government plans to spend and
take in as revenue over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary
spending limits.
Pork-barrel Spending - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Spending on often unnecessary local projects that
benefit a specific member of Congress' district or state.
Line-item Veto - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The ability of the President to reject specific portions of a
piece of legislation rather than reject an entire piece of legislation. Ruled unconstitutional by the US
Supreme Court.
Interstate Commerce Clause - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Enumerated power of Congress to regulate
commerce and trade that occurs between two or more states.
Legal Tender Act - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Act passed in 1862 that allowed Congress the ability to
produce paper notes of money not guaranteed by gold or silver.
Federal Reserve System - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----The central banking system of the United States
that sets monetary policies and bank regulations.
Advice and Consent - ------CORRECT ANSWER -----Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for
executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties
become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
