WGU C963 DEFINATIONS/QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
ANSWERS
Natural Rights - Accurate answers The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by
God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - Accurate answers A theory on how people might have lived before societies came
into existence.
Due Process - Accurate answers The requirement that government, when dealing with people,
have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - Accurate answers An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - Accurate answers Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - Accurate answers A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
Popular Vote - Accurate answers An election in which the winner is determined by the number of
individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each
state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The sharing of powers among three separate branches of
government.
, Federal System - Accurate answers A form of government which power is divided between state
governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Ratification - Accurate answers The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract,
or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - Accurate answers A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of
ratifying the Constitution.
Faction - Accurate answers A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the
force of law.
Inherent Power - Accurate answers The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to
exist as a direct result of the country's existence.
Oversight - Accurate answers The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive
branch.
Committees - Accurate answers A small set of representatives tasked with considering,
researching, introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - Accurate answers Spending that can be altered from year to year through
the appropriations process.
ANSWERS
Natural Rights - Accurate answers The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by
God; no government may take them away.
State of Nature - Accurate answers A theory on how people might have lived before societies came
into existence.
Due Process - Accurate answers The requirement that government, when dealing with people,
have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - Accurate answers An agreement between people and government in which
citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - Accurate answers Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Bicameral Legislature - Accurate answers A lawmaking body that consists of two separate
chambers.
Popular Vote - Accurate answers An election in which the winner is determined by the number of
individual votes obtained.
Virginia Plan - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each
state would receive one vote.
Great Compromise - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The sharing of powers among three separate branches of
government.
, Federal System - Accurate answers A form of government which power is divided between state
governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and
purpose of government.
Ratification - Accurate answers The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract,
or agreement, making it officially valid.
Republic - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - Accurate answers A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of
ratifying the Constitution.
Faction - Accurate answers A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - Accurate answers 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 - Accurate answers Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the
force of law.
Inherent Power - Accurate answers The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to
exist as a direct result of the country's existence.
Oversight - Accurate answers The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive
branch.
Committees - Accurate answers A small set of representatives tasked with considering,
researching, introducing, and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - Accurate answers Spending that can be altered from year to year through
the appropriations process.
