American Politics and the US Constitution
- C963 WGU Exam with Questions and
Correct Answers GRADED A+
natural ,rights ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Life, ,Liberty, ,and ,Property
John ,Locke ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-17th ,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 ,ANSWER-Hypothetical ,condition ,assumed ,to ,exist
,in ,the ,absence ,of ,government ,where ,human ,beings ,live ,in ,"complete" ,freedom
,and ,general ,equality.
Due ,Process ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-involves ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,voluntary ,agreement ,among ,individuals
,to ,secure ,their ,rights ,and ,welfare ,by ,creating ,a ,government ,and ,abiding ,by ,its
,rules.
Thomas ,Hobbes ,(1588-1679) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-One ,of ,the ,first ,individuals
,to ,contribute ,to ,the ,idea ,of ,the ,social ,contract ,was ,a ,pre-Enlightenment
,English ,philosopher
Leviathan ,(1651): ,Thomas ,Hobbes ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Hobbes ,argues ,that
,society ,is ,not ,something ,natural ,and ,immutable, ,but ,rather ,it ,is ,something
,created ,by ,us.
,Labor ,Movement ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-the ,formation ,of ,labor ,unions, ,during
,the ,1880's, ,for ,the ,workers ,to ,receive ,better ,treatment ,by
Constitution ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,document ,which ,spells ,out ,the ,principles
,by ,which ,a ,government ,runs ,and ,the ,fundamental ,laws ,that ,govern ,a ,society
Bill ,of ,Rights ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,first ,ten ,amendments ,to ,the
,Constitution
Declaration ,of ,Independence ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-the ,document ,recording ,the
,proclamation ,of ,the ,second ,Continental ,Congress ,(4 ,July ,1776) ,asserting ,the
,independence ,of ,the ,colonies ,from ,Great ,Britain
Thomas ,Jefferson ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Wrote ,the ,Declaration ,of ,Independence
Shays's ,Rebellion ,(1786-1787) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-which ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,weak ,constitution ,that
,governed ,America ,during ,the ,Revolutionary ,War.
Federalist ,no. ,51 ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Argues ,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 ,ANSWER-Congress ,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 ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,keep ,and ,bear ,arms
Third ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,government ,may ,not ,house
,soldiers ,in ,private ,homes ,without ,consent ,of ,the ,owner
Forth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-It ,protects ,people ,against ,unfair
,searches ,of ,their ,homes; ,search ,and ,seizure.
Fifth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,a ,speedy ,and ,public ,trial
,Seventh ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,a ,trial ,by ,jury ,in ,civil ,cases
Eighth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-No ,cruel ,and ,unusual ,punishment
Nineth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-peoples ,rights ,are ,not ,just ,limited ,to
,those ,listed ,in ,the ,Constitution ,and ,Bill ,of ,Rights
Tenth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Amendment ,stating ,that ,the ,powers
,not ,delegated ,to ,the ,federal ,gov. ,are ,reserved ,to ,the ,states
bicameral ,legislature ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-the ,lower ,house ,of ,Congress,
,consisting ,of ,a ,different ,number ,of ,representatives ,from ,each ,state, ,depending
,on ,population
New ,Jersey ,Plan ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Proposal ,to ,create ,a ,weak ,national
,government
Virginia ,Plan ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Proposal ,to ,create ,a ,strong ,national
,government
Constitutional ,Convention ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Meeting ,in ,1787 ,of ,the ,elected
,representatives ,of ,the ,thirteen ,original ,states ,to ,write ,the ,Constitution ,of ,the
,United ,States.
unicameral ,legislature ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-One-house ,legislature
Three-Fifths ,Compromise ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Agreement ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-Constitutional ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,government ,that ,divides ,the ,powers ,of
,government ,between ,the ,national ,government ,and ,state ,or ,provincial
,governments
enumerated ,powers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,powers ,explicitly ,given ,to
,Congress ,in ,the ,Constitution.
reserved ,powers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Powers ,given ,to ,the ,state ,government
,alone
Federalists ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Supporters ,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 ,ANSWER-Opponents ,of ,the ,American ,Constitution
,at ,the ,time ,when ,the ,states ,were ,contemplating ,its ,adoption.
Ratification ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Formal ,approval, ,final ,consent ,to ,the
,effectiveness ,of ,a ,constitution, ,constitutional ,amendment, ,or ,treaty
Republic ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,form ,of ,government ,in ,which ,citizens ,choose
,their ,leaders ,by ,voting
Habeas ,Corpus ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Constitutional ,protection ,against ,unlawful
,imprisonment
Federalist ,Papers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-An ,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 ,ANSWER-makes ,laws, ,imposes
,taxes, ,and ,declares ,war
Judicial ,Branch ,(Supreme ,Court) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-interprets ,the
,constitution ,and ,other ,laws, ,reviews ,lower-court ,decisions
Executive ,Branch ,(President) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-has ,the ,power ,to ,enforce
,the ,law
- C963 WGU Exam with Questions and
Correct Answers GRADED A+
natural ,rights ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Life, ,Liberty, ,and ,Property
John ,Locke ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-17th ,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 ,ANSWER-Hypothetical ,condition ,assumed ,to ,exist
,in ,the ,absence ,of ,government ,where ,human ,beings ,live ,in ,"complete" ,freedom
,and ,general ,equality.
Due ,Process ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-involves ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,voluntary ,agreement ,among ,individuals
,to ,secure ,their ,rights ,and ,welfare ,by ,creating ,a ,government ,and ,abiding ,by ,its
,rules.
Thomas ,Hobbes ,(1588-1679) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-One ,of ,the ,first ,individuals
,to ,contribute ,to ,the ,idea ,of ,the ,social ,contract ,was ,a ,pre-Enlightenment
,English ,philosopher
Leviathan ,(1651): ,Thomas ,Hobbes ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Hobbes ,argues ,that
,society ,is ,not ,something ,natural ,and ,immutable, ,but ,rather ,it ,is ,something
,created ,by ,us.
,Labor ,Movement ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-the ,formation ,of ,labor ,unions, ,during
,the ,1880's, ,for ,the ,workers ,to ,receive ,better ,treatment ,by
Constitution ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,document ,which ,spells ,out ,the ,principles
,by ,which ,a ,government ,runs ,and ,the ,fundamental ,laws ,that ,govern ,a ,society
Bill ,of ,Rights ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,first ,ten ,amendments ,to ,the
,Constitution
Declaration ,of ,Independence ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-the ,document ,recording ,the
,proclamation ,of ,the ,second ,Continental ,Congress ,(4 ,July ,1776) ,asserting ,the
,independence ,of ,the ,colonies ,from ,Great ,Britain
Thomas ,Jefferson ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Wrote ,the ,Declaration ,of ,Independence
Shays's ,Rebellion ,(1786-1787) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-which ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,weak ,constitution ,that
,governed ,America ,during ,the ,Revolutionary ,War.
Federalist ,no. ,51 ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Argues ,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 ,ANSWER-Congress ,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 ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,keep ,and ,bear ,arms
Third ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,government ,may ,not ,house
,soldiers ,in ,private ,homes ,without ,consent ,of ,the ,owner
Forth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-It ,protects ,people ,against ,unfair
,searches ,of ,their ,homes; ,search ,and ,seizure.
Fifth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,a ,speedy ,and ,public ,trial
,Seventh ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Right ,to ,a ,trial ,by ,jury ,in ,civil ,cases
Eighth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-No ,cruel ,and ,unusual ,punishment
Nineth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-peoples ,rights ,are ,not ,just ,limited ,to
,those ,listed ,in ,the ,Constitution ,and ,Bill ,of ,Rights
Tenth ,Amendment ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Amendment ,stating ,that ,the ,powers
,not ,delegated ,to ,the ,federal ,gov. ,are ,reserved ,to ,the ,states
bicameral ,legislature ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-the ,lower ,house ,of ,Congress,
,consisting ,of ,a ,different ,number ,of ,representatives ,from ,each ,state, ,depending
,on ,population
New ,Jersey ,Plan ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Proposal ,to ,create ,a ,weak ,national
,government
Virginia ,Plan ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Proposal ,to ,create ,a ,strong ,national
,government
Constitutional ,Convention ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Meeting ,in ,1787 ,of ,the ,elected
,representatives ,of ,the ,thirteen ,original ,states ,to ,write ,the ,Constitution ,of ,the
,United ,States.
unicameral ,legislature ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-One-house ,legislature
Three-Fifths ,Compromise ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Agreement ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-Constitutional ,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 ,ANSWER-A ,government ,that ,divides ,the ,powers ,of
,government ,between ,the ,national ,government ,and ,state ,or ,provincial
,governments
enumerated ,powers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-The ,powers ,explicitly ,given ,to
,Congress ,in ,the ,Constitution.
reserved ,powers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Powers ,given ,to ,the ,state ,government
,alone
Federalists ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Supporters ,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 ,ANSWER-Opponents ,of ,the ,American ,Constitution
,at ,the ,time ,when ,the ,states ,were ,contemplating ,its ,adoption.
Ratification ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Formal ,approval, ,final ,consent ,to ,the
,effectiveness ,of ,a ,constitution, ,constitutional ,amendment, ,or ,treaty
Republic ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,form ,of ,government ,in ,which ,citizens ,choose
,their ,leaders ,by ,voting
Habeas ,Corpus ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-Constitutional ,protection ,against ,unlawful
,imprisonment
Federalist ,Papers ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-A ,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 ,ANSWER-An ,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 ,ANSWER-makes ,laws, ,imposes
,taxes, ,and ,declares ,war
Judicial ,Branch ,(Supreme ,Court) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-interprets ,the
,constitution ,and ,other ,laws, ,reviews ,lower-court ,decisions
Executive ,Branch ,(President) ,- ,CORRECT ,ANSWER-has ,the ,power ,to ,enforce
,the ,law
