American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963 WGU|548 questions
and correct solutions 2025-2026
natrual rights - Correct AnswerLife, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - Correct Answer17th century English philosopher who opposed the
Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty,
and property.
State of Nature - Correct AnswerHypothetical condition assumed to exist in the
absence of government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general
equality.
Due Process - Correct Answerinvolves the government's obligation to treat all
citizens fairly. Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can
be exercised over the individual, making the power differential between the two more
fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract - Correct AnswerA voluntary agreement among individuals to
secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - Correct AnswerOne of the first individuals to
contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - Correct AnswerHobbes argues that society
is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement - Correct Answerthe formation of labor unions, during the
1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution - Correct AnswerA document which spells out the principles by
which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights - Correct AnswerThe first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - Correct Answerthe document recording the
proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the
independence of the colonies from Great Britain
,Thomas Jefferson - Correct AnswerWrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - Correct Answerwhich almost resulted in
potential mob rule, suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that
maybe individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation - Correct AnswerA weak constitution that governed
America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51 - Correct AnswerArgues that separation of powers within the
national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands
of one person or a single group.
First Amendment - Correct AnswerCongress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment - Correct AnswerThe government may not house soldiers in
private homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment - Correct AnswerIt protects people against unfair searches of
their homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment - Correct AnswerA constitutional amendment designed to
protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double
jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - Correct AnswerNo cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment - Correct Answerpeoples rights are not just limited to those
listed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - Correct AnswerAmendment stating that the powers not
delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states
,bicameral legislature - Correct AnswerA law making body made of two houses
(bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of
Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives - Correct Answerthe lower house of Congress,
consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on
population
New Jersey Plan - Correct AnswerProposal to create a weak national
government
Virginia Plan - Correct AnswerProposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - Correct AnswerMeeting in 1787 of the elected
representatives of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United
States.
unicameral legislature - Correct AnswerOne-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - Correct AnswerAgreement that each slave counted
as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation
and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances - Correct AnswerA system that allows each branch of
government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - Correct AnswerConstitutional division of powers among
the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law,
the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
federal system - Correct AnswerA government that divides the powers of
government between the national government and state or provincial governments
enumerated powers - Correct AnswerThe powers explicitly given to Congress in
the Constitution.
reserved powers - Correct AnswerPowers given to the state government alone
Federalists - Correct AnswerSupporters of the Constitution that were led by
Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government
, should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights
were already well protected by the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Correct AnswerOpponents of the American Constitution at the
time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Ratification - Correct AnswerFormal approval, final consent to the effectiveness
of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty
Republic - Correct AnswerA form of government in which citizens choose their
leaders by voting
Habeas Corpus - Correct AnswerConstitutional protection against unlawful
imprisonment
Federalist Papers - Correct AnswerA collection of 85 articles written by
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend
the Constitution in detail.
Federalist No. 10 - Correct AnswerAn essay composed by James Madison which
argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist.
Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will
always be unstable.
Legislative Branch (Congress) - Correct Answermakes laws, imposes taxes, and
declares war
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - Correct Answerinterprets the constitution and
other laws, reviews lower-court decisions
Executive Branch (President) - Correct Answerhas the power to enforce the law
Executive Orders - Correct AnswerFormal orders issued by the president to
direct action by the federal bureaucracy.
checks on the executive branch - Correct AnswerBy Congress
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Control of funding activities of the executive branch
Presidential nominees must be approved by the Senate
Only Congress can declare war
Constitution - C963 WGU|548 questions
and correct solutions 2025-2026
natrual rights - Correct AnswerLife, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - Correct Answer17th century English philosopher who opposed the
Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty,
and property.
State of Nature - Correct AnswerHypothetical condition assumed to exist in the
absence of government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general
equality.
Due Process - Correct Answerinvolves the government's obligation to treat all
citizens fairly. Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can
be exercised over the individual, making the power differential between the two more
fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract - Correct AnswerA voluntary agreement among individuals to
secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - Correct AnswerOne of the first individuals to
contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - Correct AnswerHobbes argues that society
is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement - Correct Answerthe formation of labor unions, during the
1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution - Correct AnswerA document which spells out the principles by
which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights - Correct AnswerThe first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - Correct Answerthe document recording the
proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the
independence of the colonies from Great Britain
,Thomas Jefferson - Correct AnswerWrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - Correct Answerwhich almost resulted in
potential mob rule, suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that
maybe individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation - Correct AnswerA weak constitution that governed
America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51 - Correct AnswerArgues that separation of powers within the
national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands
of one person or a single group.
First Amendment - Correct AnswerCongress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment - Correct AnswerThe government may not house soldiers in
private homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment - Correct AnswerIt protects people against unfair searches of
their homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment - Correct AnswerA constitutional amendment designed to
protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double
jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Correct AnswerRight to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - Correct AnswerNo cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment - Correct Answerpeoples rights are not just limited to those
listed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - Correct AnswerAmendment stating that the powers not
delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states
,bicameral legislature - Correct AnswerA law making body made of two houses
(bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of
Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives - Correct Answerthe lower house of Congress,
consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on
population
New Jersey Plan - Correct AnswerProposal to create a weak national
government
Virginia Plan - Correct AnswerProposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - Correct AnswerMeeting in 1787 of the elected
representatives of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United
States.
unicameral legislature - Correct AnswerOne-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - Correct AnswerAgreement that each slave counted
as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation
and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances - Correct AnswerA system that allows each branch of
government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - Correct AnswerConstitutional division of powers among
the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law,
the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
federal system - Correct AnswerA government that divides the powers of
government between the national government and state or provincial governments
enumerated powers - Correct AnswerThe powers explicitly given to Congress in
the Constitution.
reserved powers - Correct AnswerPowers given to the state government alone
Federalists - Correct AnswerSupporters of the Constitution that were led by
Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government
, should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights
were already well protected by the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Correct AnswerOpponents of the American Constitution at the
time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Ratification - Correct AnswerFormal approval, final consent to the effectiveness
of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty
Republic - Correct AnswerA form of government in which citizens choose their
leaders by voting
Habeas Corpus - Correct AnswerConstitutional protection against unlawful
imprisonment
Federalist Papers - Correct AnswerA collection of 85 articles written by
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend
the Constitution in detail.
Federalist No. 10 - Correct AnswerAn essay composed by James Madison which
argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist.
Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will
always be unstable.
Legislative Branch (Congress) - Correct Answermakes laws, imposes taxes, and
declares war
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - Correct Answerinterprets the constitution and
other laws, reviews lower-court decisions
Executive Branch (President) - Correct Answerhas the power to enforce the law
Executive Orders - Correct AnswerFormal orders issued by the president to
direct action by the federal bureaucracy.
checks on the executive branch - Correct AnswerBy Congress
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Control of funding activities of the executive branch
Presidential nominees must be approved by the Senate
Only Congress can declare war
