WGU C963 - AMENDMENTS, C963 WGU
AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION. EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Implied power (definition) - ANS the powers not specifically detailed in the U.S. Constitution
but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government.
enumerated powers (definition) - ANS The powers given explicitly to the federal government
by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce,
raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
inherent powers (definition) - ANS the powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed
to exist as a direct result of the country's existence
Powers of the Legislative Branch - ANS tax citizens, set the budget, regulate commerce,
declare war, provide advice and consent on appointments, impeach individuals, oversee the
powers of the judicial and executive branches
Implied Congressional powers - ANS oversee branches of government
Enumerated Congressional powers - ANS the power to levy and collect taxes, declare war,
raise an army and navy, coin money, borrow money, regulate commerce among the states and
with foreign nations, establish federal courts and bankruptcy rules, establish rules for
immigration and naturalization, and issue patents and copyrights
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Inherited Congressional Powers - ANS the power to control borders of the state, the power to
expand the territory of the state, and the power to defend itself from internal revolution or
coups
Ways the legislative branch engages in checks and balances with other branches - ANS advice
and consent, impeachment, and oversight
Congress exercising its power under the Commerce Clause - ANS Regulate commerce, set
minimum wages, prohibiting discrimination in workforce
How a bill becomes a law - ANS 1) The bill is introduced and given to the appropriate
standing committee.
2) The bill is sent to the Rules Committee.
3) The bill is debated in the House of Representatives and Senate with the possibility of a
filibuster in the Senate.
4) The bill is voted upon by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
5) The bill is sent to the conference committee to form one unified bill.
6) The unified bill is sent back to the House of Representatives and Senate to be voted upon.
7) The bill goes to the president for signature or veto. If vetoed, Congress has the ability to
override the veto.
legislation process - ANS ?????
standing committee - ANS permanent committees that exist from session to session for the
purpose of researching, writing, and introducing proposed pieces of legislation
select committee - ANS temporary committees established to investigate a particular issues
or policy area not covered by a standing committee.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, joint committee - ANS Committees that have both members of the House of Representatives
and the Senate serving and working together.
conference committee - ANS a type of joint committee whose job it is to form one unified bill
from of different versions of the same piece of legislation passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate to be sent to the President
Reapportionment - ANS the reallocation of seats in the House or Representatives based on
changes in a state's population since the last census
redistricting - ANS the re-drawing of electoral districts to accommodate for changes in a
state's population based on the last census. The goal is to create districts that are equal in
population
gerrymandering - ANS the illegal re-drawing of electoral districts to provide an unfair
electoral advantage based on political party or race.
census - ANS a population count. The United States completes a census every 10 years.
Importance of Census - ANS determines state's seats for congress, state's number of votes for
electoral college
Miller v. Johnson (1995) - ANS the Supreme Court ruled that, under the Constitution's Equal
Protection Clause, race could not be the "dominant and controlling" motivation for drawing
congressional districts.
Term limits for president - ANS 2 terms, four years each
Duties of the President - ANS enforce laws; commander of military; foreign affairs; negotiate
treaties; nominate cabinet and justices; review and sign or veto bills; issue pardons; address
Congress yearly (State of the Union Address)
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION. EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Implied power (definition) - ANS the powers not specifically detailed in the U.S. Constitution
but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government.
enumerated powers (definition) - ANS The powers given explicitly to the federal government
by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce,
raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
inherent powers (definition) - ANS the powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed
to exist as a direct result of the country's existence
Powers of the Legislative Branch - ANS tax citizens, set the budget, regulate commerce,
declare war, provide advice and consent on appointments, impeach individuals, oversee the
powers of the judicial and executive branches
Implied Congressional powers - ANS oversee branches of government
Enumerated Congressional powers - ANS the power to levy and collect taxes, declare war,
raise an army and navy, coin money, borrow money, regulate commerce among the states and
with foreign nations, establish federal courts and bankruptcy rules, establish rules for
immigration and naturalization, and issue patents and copyrights
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Inherited Congressional Powers - ANS the power to control borders of the state, the power to
expand the territory of the state, and the power to defend itself from internal revolution or
coups
Ways the legislative branch engages in checks and balances with other branches - ANS advice
and consent, impeachment, and oversight
Congress exercising its power under the Commerce Clause - ANS Regulate commerce, set
minimum wages, prohibiting discrimination in workforce
How a bill becomes a law - ANS 1) The bill is introduced and given to the appropriate
standing committee.
2) The bill is sent to the Rules Committee.
3) The bill is debated in the House of Representatives and Senate with the possibility of a
filibuster in the Senate.
4) The bill is voted upon by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
5) The bill is sent to the conference committee to form one unified bill.
6) The unified bill is sent back to the House of Representatives and Senate to be voted upon.
7) The bill goes to the president for signature or veto. If vetoed, Congress has the ability to
override the veto.
legislation process - ANS ?????
standing committee - ANS permanent committees that exist from session to session for the
purpose of researching, writing, and introducing proposed pieces of legislation
select committee - ANS temporary committees established to investigate a particular issues
or policy area not covered by a standing committee.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, joint committee - ANS Committees that have both members of the House of Representatives
and the Senate serving and working together.
conference committee - ANS a type of joint committee whose job it is to form one unified bill
from of different versions of the same piece of legislation passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate to be sent to the President
Reapportionment - ANS the reallocation of seats in the House or Representatives based on
changes in a state's population since the last census
redistricting - ANS the re-drawing of electoral districts to accommodate for changes in a
state's population based on the last census. The goal is to create districts that are equal in
population
gerrymandering - ANS the illegal re-drawing of electoral districts to provide an unfair
electoral advantage based on political party or race.
census - ANS a population count. The United States completes a census every 10 years.
Importance of Census - ANS determines state's seats for congress, state's number of votes for
electoral college
Miller v. Johnson (1995) - ANS the Supreme Court ruled that, under the Constitution's Equal
Protection Clause, race could not be the "dominant and controlling" motivation for drawing
congressional districts.
Term limits for president - ANS 2 terms, four years each
Duties of the President - ANS enforce laws; commander of military; foreign affairs; negotiate
treaties; nominate cabinet and justices; review and sign or veto bills; issue pardons; address
Congress yearly (State of the Union Address)
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
