POSC 1010 FINAL EXAM (CLEMSON UNIVERSITY) QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
What is the Declaration of Independence? -CORRECT ANSWER- A document
written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence
from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King
What does the Declaration of Independence say about the source of rights and the
purpose of government? -CORRECT ANSWER- The declaration of
independence makes it clear that the government has one purpose of protecting the
human rights of life, liberty, and property (pursuit of happiness).
Democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- A form of govt where political power rests in
the hands of the people
Direct Democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- -All eligible citizens can participate
directly
-Individuals represent their own interests
Representative democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- -All eligible voters can
choose individuals to represent them
-Represent the interests of constituents
-Few features of direct democracy
republic -CORRECT ANSWER- A form of government in which the people
select representatives to govern them and make laws.
-popular consent
,-natural elites should rule
-limits on masses
monarchy -CORRECT ANSWER- A government in which power is in the hands
of a single person.
Oligarchy -CORRECT ANSWER- a small group of people having control of a
country, organization, or institution.
Tolitarianism -CORRECT ANSWER- government control over every aspect of
public and private life
What is a social contract? -CORRECT ANSWER- an implicit agreement among
the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits
elite theory -CORRECT ANSWER- claims political power rests in the hands of a
small, elite group of people
majority rule -CORRECT ANSWER- a fundamental principle of democracy; the
majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
minority rights -CORRECT ANSWER- protections for those who are not part of
the majority
pluralist theory -CORRECT ANSWER- claims political power rests in the hands
of groups of people
,politics -CORRECT ANSWER- the process by which we decide how resources
will be allocated and which policies government will pursue
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation -CORRECT ANSWER- -articles
could not be changes without an unanmious amount to do so.
***problems could not be easily fixed
-there was no national judicial system
**** bc judiciaries are important enforces of national govt power
Articles of Confederation features and flaws -CORRECT ANSWER- -no
executive branch
-Judicial
-Unicameral legislator
-equal rep. (1 vote per state)
-9/13 to pass
-unamity to amend/abolish
Federalists -CORRECT ANSWER- supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists -CORRECT ANSWER- people who opposed the Constitution
Items of consensus at Constitutional Convention -CORRECT ANSWER- -replace
articles of confederation
-belief in republican form of govt
, -need stronger national govt
-dangers of factions
Items of disagreement at the constitutional convention -CORRECT ANSWER- -
representation in congress
-giving power to the president
-stopping the slave trade
-why no bill rights?
Virginia Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- "Large state" proposal for the new
constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral
Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come
back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- A constitutional proposal that would
have given each state one vote in a new congress
Conneticut Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- senate will have equal representation
from all states and house reps will be based on population
Great Compromise -CORRECT ANSWER- agreement providing a dual system
of congressional representation
3/5 Compromise -CORRECT ANSWER- -each slave would count for 3/5 of a
person for taxation and representation purposes
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
What is the Declaration of Independence? -CORRECT ANSWER- A document
written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence
from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King
What does the Declaration of Independence say about the source of rights and the
purpose of government? -CORRECT ANSWER- The declaration of
independence makes it clear that the government has one purpose of protecting the
human rights of life, liberty, and property (pursuit of happiness).
Democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- A form of govt where political power rests in
the hands of the people
Direct Democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- -All eligible citizens can participate
directly
-Individuals represent their own interests
Representative democracy -CORRECT ANSWER- -All eligible voters can
choose individuals to represent them
-Represent the interests of constituents
-Few features of direct democracy
republic -CORRECT ANSWER- A form of government in which the people
select representatives to govern them and make laws.
-popular consent
,-natural elites should rule
-limits on masses
monarchy -CORRECT ANSWER- A government in which power is in the hands
of a single person.
Oligarchy -CORRECT ANSWER- a small group of people having control of a
country, organization, or institution.
Tolitarianism -CORRECT ANSWER- government control over every aspect of
public and private life
What is a social contract? -CORRECT ANSWER- an implicit agreement among
the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits
elite theory -CORRECT ANSWER- claims political power rests in the hands of a
small, elite group of people
majority rule -CORRECT ANSWER- a fundamental principle of democracy; the
majority should have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
minority rights -CORRECT ANSWER- protections for those who are not part of
the majority
pluralist theory -CORRECT ANSWER- claims political power rests in the hands
of groups of people
,politics -CORRECT ANSWER- the process by which we decide how resources
will be allocated and which policies government will pursue
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation -CORRECT ANSWER- -articles
could not be changes without an unanmious amount to do so.
***problems could not be easily fixed
-there was no national judicial system
**** bc judiciaries are important enforces of national govt power
Articles of Confederation features and flaws -CORRECT ANSWER- -no
executive branch
-Judicial
-Unicameral legislator
-equal rep. (1 vote per state)
-9/13 to pass
-unamity to amend/abolish
Federalists -CORRECT ANSWER- supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists -CORRECT ANSWER- people who opposed the Constitution
Items of consensus at Constitutional Convention -CORRECT ANSWER- -replace
articles of confederation
-belief in republican form of govt
, -need stronger national govt
-dangers of factions
Items of disagreement at the constitutional convention -CORRECT ANSWER- -
representation in congress
-giving power to the president
-stopping the slave trade
-why no bill rights?
Virginia Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- "Large state" proposal for the new
constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral
Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come
back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- A constitutional proposal that would
have given each state one vote in a new congress
Conneticut Plan -CORRECT ANSWER- senate will have equal representation
from all states and house reps will be based on population
Great Compromise -CORRECT ANSWER- agreement providing a dual system
of congressional representation
3/5 Compromise -CORRECT ANSWER- -each slave would count for 3/5 of a
person for taxation and representation purposes
