C963 - Objective Assessment American Politics and The US Constitution
WGU Exam with Questions and Verified Rationalized Answers
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1. Major contributors to social contract theory: Hobbes, Locke, Reasseau
2. Social Contract Theory: We need food, clothing and shelter to survive and nothing
should interfere with our ability to obtain them. We may also choose to believe in a
god. The belief gives definition to our existance. Therefore it is important we define
ourselves as individuals.
3. Enlightenment Influence on Constitution: Bill of Rights and the Second
Amendment, Ninth Amendment
4. Bill of Rights (Enlightenment): The first eight Bill of Rights
5. Declaration of Independence (Enlightenment): people have rights of life, liber- ty,
and the pursuit of happiness
6. Articles of Confederation weaknesses: No executive, no judicial, no power to
tax, no power to regulate trade
7. Articles of Confederation - Strengths: Provided direction for the Revolution, the
ability to conduct diplomacy with Europe, and deal with territorial issues and Native
American relations.
8. New Jersey Plan: The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for
equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
9. Virginia Plan: Proposal to create a strong national government
10. Constitutional Convention: A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a
,new constitution
11. Three-Fifths compromise: Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of
a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment). Bicameral congress.
12. Checks and Balances: A system that allows each branch of government to limit
the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
13. Separation of Powers: Constitutional division of powers among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the execu-
tive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
14. Federalists: A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during
ratification debates in state legislatures.
15. Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the
states were contemplating its adoption.
16. Ratifying the Constitution: Article VII, 9 out of 13 states had to agree, it was
ratified at state conventions
17. Federalist #10 (factions): Elites can never take over rule of the government due to
too many factions.
18. Federalist #51 (Madison): Separation of powers, checks and balances
19. Separations of Powers: The division of the federal government into three
branches each with its own powers
, 20. Government Branches: Three sections of the US government: legislative, ex-
ecutive, and judicial. Each branch has powers that restrict the other branches
powers.
21. How are laws made and enforced using the separation of powers: Congress
originates laws
Judicial branch reviews laws for constitutionality Executive
branch enforces laws
22. system of checks and balances: Constitutional system in which each branch of
government places limits on the power of other branches
23. Several checks the judicial branch has on the legislative and executive
branches: Executive:
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial review if the actions violate the
Constitution
Serve during good behavior to maintain independence of judiciary
Legislative:
Can overturn acts of Congress as unconstitutional if they violate the law Can
influence laws by interpretation
Serve during good behavior to maintain independence of judiciary
24. Several checks the legislative branch has on the judicial and executive
branches: Judicial:
Senate must approve judges and justices
Controls jurisdiction of the courts
Determines size of Supreme Court
WGU Exam with Questions and Verified Rationalized Answers
100% Guaranteed A+
1. Major contributors to social contract theory: Hobbes, Locke, Reasseau
2. Social Contract Theory: We need food, clothing and shelter to survive and nothing
should interfere with our ability to obtain them. We may also choose to believe in a
god. The belief gives definition to our existance. Therefore it is important we define
ourselves as individuals.
3. Enlightenment Influence on Constitution: Bill of Rights and the Second
Amendment, Ninth Amendment
4. Bill of Rights (Enlightenment): The first eight Bill of Rights
5. Declaration of Independence (Enlightenment): people have rights of life, liber- ty,
and the pursuit of happiness
6. Articles of Confederation weaknesses: No executive, no judicial, no power to
tax, no power to regulate trade
7. Articles of Confederation - Strengths: Provided direction for the Revolution, the
ability to conduct diplomacy with Europe, and deal with territorial issues and Native
American relations.
8. New Jersey Plan: The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for
equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
9. Virginia Plan: Proposal to create a strong national government
10. Constitutional Convention: A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a
,new constitution
11. Three-Fifths compromise: Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of
a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment). Bicameral congress.
12. Checks and Balances: A system that allows each branch of government to limit
the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
13. Separation of Powers: Constitutional division of powers among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the execu-
tive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
14. Federalists: A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during
ratification debates in state legislatures.
15. Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the
states were contemplating its adoption.
16. Ratifying the Constitution: Article VII, 9 out of 13 states had to agree, it was
ratified at state conventions
17. Federalist #10 (factions): Elites can never take over rule of the government due to
too many factions.
18. Federalist #51 (Madison): Separation of powers, checks and balances
19. Separations of Powers: The division of the federal government into three
branches each with its own powers
, 20. Government Branches: Three sections of the US government: legislative, ex-
ecutive, and judicial. Each branch has powers that restrict the other branches
powers.
21. How are laws made and enforced using the separation of powers: Congress
originates laws
Judicial branch reviews laws for constitutionality Executive
branch enforces laws
22. system of checks and balances: Constitutional system in which each branch of
government places limits on the power of other branches
23. Several checks the judicial branch has on the legislative and executive
branches: Executive:
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial review if the actions violate the
Constitution
Serve during good behavior to maintain independence of judiciary
Legislative:
Can overturn acts of Congress as unconstitutional if they violate the law Can
influence laws by interpretation
Serve during good behavior to maintain independence of judiciary
24. Several checks the legislative branch has on the judicial and executive
branches: Judicial:
Senate must approve judges and justices
Controls jurisdiction of the courts
Determines size of Supreme Court
