Pre-Assessment WGU American Politics and the US
Constitution C963 Questions with Correct answers
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? - ✔✔James
Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - ✔✔They did not have elected
representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? -
✔✔The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - ✔✔They wanted a government based on the representation of the population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was
finalized in the Constitution establish? - ✔✔A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - ✔✔It allowed slave states to count three-
fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? - ✔✔A strong
national government is better for national defense and economic growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to
counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - ✔✔Separation of powers and checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - ✔✔The Supreme Court can declare actions
by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - ✔✔State government and national government have exclusive
authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? -
✔✔Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual
members of the House of Representatives? - ✔✔The smaller total number of Senate members
compared to the number of representatives
What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? -
✔✔Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in each
district
, What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - ✔✔Bills change significantly
through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - ✔✔Appointing judges
What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? - ✔✔The
power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - ✔✔The 22nd
Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - ✔✔To establish agreements with foreign
countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? - ✔✔It
established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - ✔✔13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - ✔✔9
What is a power reserved for the state? - ✔✔Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - ✔✔The 10th Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - ✔✔A loose
constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - ✔✔The candidate who wins the
popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice president? -
✔✔The 12th Amendment
What is true about campaign ads in primary elections? - ✔✔They often try to raise the name
recognition of a candidate
How are elections for the U.S. Senate conducted? - ✔✔One-third of the Senate seats are up for
election every two years
Which election cycle event allows local party members to select their delegates for a presidential
election? - ✔✔A caucus
Constitution C963 Questions with Correct answers
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? - ✔✔James
Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - ✔✔They did not have elected
representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? -
✔✔The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - ✔✔They wanted a government based on the representation of the population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was
finalized in the Constitution establish? - ✔✔A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - ✔✔It allowed slave states to count three-
fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? - ✔✔A strong
national government is better for national defense and economic growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to
counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - ✔✔Separation of powers and checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - ✔✔The Supreme Court can declare actions
by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - ✔✔State government and national government have exclusive
authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? -
✔✔Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual
members of the House of Representatives? - ✔✔The smaller total number of Senate members
compared to the number of representatives
What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? -
✔✔Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in each
district
, What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - ✔✔Bills change significantly
through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - ✔✔Appointing judges
What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? - ✔✔The
power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - ✔✔The 22nd
Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - ✔✔To establish agreements with foreign
countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? - ✔✔It
established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - ✔✔13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - ✔✔9
What is a power reserved for the state? - ✔✔Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - ✔✔The 10th Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - ✔✔A loose
constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - ✔✔The candidate who wins the
popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice president? -
✔✔The 12th Amendment
What is true about campaign ads in primary elections? - ✔✔They often try to raise the name
recognition of a candidate
How are elections for the U.S. Senate conducted? - ✔✔One-third of the Senate seats are up for
election every two years
Which election cycle event allows local party members to select their delegates for a presidential
election? - ✔✔A caucus
