WGU C963 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Bill of Rights - ANS Constitutional amendments that protect the rights of citizens
Social Contracy Theory - ANS Agreement between people and government where citizens are
content to be governed as long as government protects natural rights.
Montesquieu - ANS French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive
and legislative and judicial powers.
Advocated for due process
Adam Smith - ANS argued for property rights and minimal gov regulation in economics.
Thomas Hobbes - ANS english philosopher who argued society isnt natural or immutable but
created by us, instead of being passive members of society we are creators.
Implicit contracts - ANS never agreed upon, but we find ourselves in.
"Rights imply obligation so when you take from the pot, you are expected to pay in"
Ex: taxes
State of Nature - ANS theory on how people might have lived before societies
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 36
,Natural Rights - ANS society can not interfere with our efforts to obtain
ex: Food, shelter, clothing
Hobbes vs. Locke vs. Roussea - ANS Hobbes- seeks physical security as social contract
Locke- seeks protection from harm and permitting us to pursue our own lives
Rousseau- argues for general will of society using uniformity of existence
Social Contract - ANS require continual renegotiation to remain relevant to present
circumstances.
Failure to negotiate can lead to dissolution of society
Declaration of Independence - ANS written mainly by Jefferson, expressed ideas of locke.
-Gov serves to regulate terms of social contract in society and protect our natural rights and
serve as democratic conduit for interests
U.S. Constitution - ANS turns to less democratic ideas of Montesquieu and Rousseau
- separates legislative, executive and judicial powers, works to determine sovereignty of states
Articles of confederation - ANS first attempt at structuring the United States.
- established republic that held power and elected representatives to govern with independent
self governing states from a union
bicameral legislature - ANS two chambers of legislature; House of Representatives and
Senate
created so the government didnt have too much power
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,Power to Borrow and coin money - ANS federal government can establish national banking
system; also to control national fiscal power
Power to declare war - ANS gov can delcare war if deemed appropriate and can appoint
military officials
Power to make Treaties and Alliances with other nations - ANS could enter into treaties or
agreements with other nations if deemed appropriate.
Power to Regulate Trade w/ Native Americans - ANS negotiate and regulate trade but, native
Americans werent considered citizens of the U.S. and were treated as foreigners.
Power to settle disputes between states - ANS right to settle any and all boundary disputes
that arose between the states, which were bound to happen.
Power to Raise an Army or Navy - ANS National government didn't have the power for its
own military so they had to request troops from the states who could deny. This would leave a
lack of defense for the country
Taxation - ANS national government had no power to impose or collect taxes; they had to
request it from states- they were negligent and would leave national government underfunded.
Regulating Trade - ANS National gov didnt have the power to regulate trade causing the
economy to suffer; trade was regulated through the states so the national government couldnt
collect taxes.
Virginia Plan - ANS "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.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 36
, The Great Compromise - ANS Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which
states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation
based on population in the other house
Article 1 of the Constitution - ANS congress is given power to tax, maintain navy & army, and
regulate trade and commerce, coin and borrow money declare war, establish laws.
3/5 Compromise - ANS 60% of slaves counted for population and taxable property
Clause 3 Article IV - ANS slave owners can reclaim their runaway slaves.
checks and balances - ANS A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Federal System - ANS form of government where power is divided between states and
national government
Enumerated Powers - ANS given explicitly to the federal government by the constitution to
regulate interstate and foreign commerce, declare war, support armies, coin money, and
conduct foreign affairs
Political Ideologies - ANS coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government
Anti federalists - ANS believed the constitution offered little protection for liberty and
national rights
- feared national gov and believed state legislature could protect rights
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 36
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Bill of Rights - ANS Constitutional amendments that protect the rights of citizens
Social Contracy Theory - ANS Agreement between people and government where citizens are
content to be governed as long as government protects natural rights.
Montesquieu - ANS French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive
and legislative and judicial powers.
Advocated for due process
Adam Smith - ANS argued for property rights and minimal gov regulation in economics.
Thomas Hobbes - ANS english philosopher who argued society isnt natural or immutable but
created by us, instead of being passive members of society we are creators.
Implicit contracts - ANS never agreed upon, but we find ourselves in.
"Rights imply obligation so when you take from the pot, you are expected to pay in"
Ex: taxes
State of Nature - ANS theory on how people might have lived before societies
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 36
,Natural Rights - ANS society can not interfere with our efforts to obtain
ex: Food, shelter, clothing
Hobbes vs. Locke vs. Roussea - ANS Hobbes- seeks physical security as social contract
Locke- seeks protection from harm and permitting us to pursue our own lives
Rousseau- argues for general will of society using uniformity of existence
Social Contract - ANS require continual renegotiation to remain relevant to present
circumstances.
Failure to negotiate can lead to dissolution of society
Declaration of Independence - ANS written mainly by Jefferson, expressed ideas of locke.
-Gov serves to regulate terms of social contract in society and protect our natural rights and
serve as democratic conduit for interests
U.S. Constitution - ANS turns to less democratic ideas of Montesquieu and Rousseau
- separates legislative, executive and judicial powers, works to determine sovereignty of states
Articles of confederation - ANS first attempt at structuring the United States.
- established republic that held power and elected representatives to govern with independent
self governing states from a union
bicameral legislature - ANS two chambers of legislature; House of Representatives and
Senate
created so the government didnt have too much power
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 36
,Power to Borrow and coin money - ANS federal government can establish national banking
system; also to control national fiscal power
Power to declare war - ANS gov can delcare war if deemed appropriate and can appoint
military officials
Power to make Treaties and Alliances with other nations - ANS could enter into treaties or
agreements with other nations if deemed appropriate.
Power to Regulate Trade w/ Native Americans - ANS negotiate and regulate trade but, native
Americans werent considered citizens of the U.S. and were treated as foreigners.
Power to settle disputes between states - ANS right to settle any and all boundary disputes
that arose between the states, which were bound to happen.
Power to Raise an Army or Navy - ANS National government didn't have the power for its
own military so they had to request troops from the states who could deny. This would leave a
lack of defense for the country
Taxation - ANS national government had no power to impose or collect taxes; they had to
request it from states- they were negligent and would leave national government underfunded.
Regulating Trade - ANS National gov didnt have the power to regulate trade causing the
economy to suffer; trade was regulated through the states so the national government couldnt
collect taxes.
Virginia Plan - ANS "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.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 36
, The Great Compromise - ANS Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which
states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation
based on population in the other house
Article 1 of the Constitution - ANS congress is given power to tax, maintain navy & army, and
regulate trade and commerce, coin and borrow money declare war, establish laws.
3/5 Compromise - ANS 60% of slaves counted for population and taxable property
Clause 3 Article IV - ANS slave owners can reclaim their runaway slaves.
checks and balances - ANS A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Federal System - ANS form of government where power is divided between states and
national government
Enumerated Powers - ANS given explicitly to the federal government by the constitution to
regulate interstate and foreign commerce, declare war, support armies, coin money, and
conduct foreign affairs
Political Ideologies - ANS coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government
Anti federalists - ANS believed the constitution offered little protection for liberty and
national rights
- feared national gov and believed state legislature could protect rights
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 36
