WGU C963 OA EXAM QUESTIONS 2025 GRADED A
Natural Rights - The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may
take them away.
State of Nature - A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into existence.
Due Process - The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a fair
procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - A lawmaking body that consists of two separate chambers.
Popular Vote - An election in which the winner is determined by the number of individual votes
obtained.
Virginia Plan - 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 - A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one
vote.
Great Compromise - 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 - 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 - The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - 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 - The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government.
Federal System - A form of government which power is divided between state governments and a
national government.
Enumerated Powers - 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 - 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 - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government.
Ratification - The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it
officially valid.
Republic - 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 - The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying the Constitution.
Natural Rights - The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may
take them away.
State of Nature - A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into existence.
Due Process - The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a fair
procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - A lawmaking body that consists of two separate chambers.
Popular Vote - An election in which the winner is determined by the number of individual votes
obtained.
Virginia Plan - 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 - A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one
vote.
Great Compromise - 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 - 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 - The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - 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 - The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government.
Federal System - A form of government which power is divided between state governments and a
national government.
Enumerated Powers - 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 - 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 - Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government.
Ratification - The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it
officially valid.
Republic - 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 - The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying the Constitution.
