WGU C963 Objective Assessment EXAM 2025 GRADED A
Major contributors to social contract theory - Hobbes, Locke, Reasseau
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.
Enlightenment Influence on Constitution - Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment, Ninth Amendment
Bill of Rights (Enlightenment) - The first eight Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence (Enlightenment) - people have rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
Articles of Confederation weaknesses - No executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate
trade
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.
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.
Virginia Plan - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
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.
,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
Separation of Powers - Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the
judiciary interpreting the law
Federalists - A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state
legislatures.
Anti-Federalists - Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were
contemplating its adoption.
Ratifying the Constitution - Article VII, 9 out of 13 states had to agree, it was ratified at state conventions
Federalist #10 (factions) - Elites can never take over rule of the government due to too many factions.
Federalist #51 (Madison) - Separation of powers, checks and balances
Separations of Powers - The division of the federal government into three branches each with its own
powers
Government Branches - Three sections of the US government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each
branch has powers that restrict the other branches powers.
How are laws made and enforced using the separation of powers - Congress originates laws
Judicial branch reviews laws for constitutionality
Executive branch enforces laws
, system of checks and balances - Constitutional system in which each branch of government places limits
on the power of other branches
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
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
House can impeach judges and Senate can remove them by two-thirds vote
Executive:
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Major contributors to social contract theory - Hobbes, Locke, Reasseau
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.
Enlightenment Influence on Constitution - Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment, Ninth Amendment
Bill of Rights (Enlightenment) - The first eight Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence (Enlightenment) - people have rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
Articles of Confederation weaknesses - No executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate
trade
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.
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.
Virginia Plan - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
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.
,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
Separation of Powers - Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the
judiciary interpreting the law
Federalists - A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state
legislatures.
Anti-Federalists - Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were
contemplating its adoption.
Ratifying the Constitution - Article VII, 9 out of 13 states had to agree, it was ratified at state conventions
Federalist #10 (factions) - Elites can never take over rule of the government due to too many factions.
Federalist #51 (Madison) - Separation of powers, checks and balances
Separations of Powers - The division of the federal government into three branches each with its own
powers
Government Branches - Three sections of the US government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each
branch has powers that restrict the other branches powers.
How are laws made and enforced using the separation of powers - Congress originates laws
Judicial branch reviews laws for constitutionality
Executive branch enforces laws
, system of checks and balances - Constitutional system in which each branch of government places limits
on the power of other branches
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
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
House can impeach judges and Senate can remove them by two-thirds vote
Executive:
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
