WGU C181 Exam Questions with Complete Solutions 100% Solved| Grade A+
What is a republic? A government without a monarch, rooted in the consent of the
governed whose power is exercised by elected representatives responsible to the governed
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation One Branch Congress, could not tax, coin
money, raise an army, regulate trade/commerce
States had all power
No central leadership or cooperation among states
No court system
Hard to change, required unanimous agreement to amend
Key elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans and the Great Compromise Virginia Plan:
separation of the government into three branches, proportional representation in legislature
New jersey plan: a set of nine resolutions that would have, in effect, preserved the Articles of
Confederation by amending rather than replacing them
Great compromise: a plan calling for a bicameral legislature in which the House of
Representatives would be apportioned according to population
Key positions/arguments of the Federalists and Antifederalists Federalist: pro Constitution
Antifederalist: against Constitution
Federalist 10 Argued that the proposed constitution was designed "to break and control the
violence of faction." (pluralist democracy)
Federalist 51 James Madison. "ambition must be made to counteract ambition," he argued
that the separation of powers and checks and balances would control efforts at tyranny from
any source.
,Arguments for bill of rights ▪ They restrain the national government from tampering with
fundamental rights and civil liberties, and emphasize the limited character of the national
government's power
Arguments against bill of rights Because the national government was limited to those
powers that were granted to it and because no power was granted to abridge the people's
liberties, a list of guaranteed freedoms was not necessary.
4 elements of preamble It creates a people: "We the people of the United States" was a
dramatic departure from a loose confederation of states.
It explains the reason for the Constitution: "in order to form a more perfect Union" was an
indirect way of saying that the first effort, the Articles of Confederation, had been inadequate.
It articulates goals: "[to] establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity"—in other words, the government exists to promote order and freedom.
It fashions a government: "do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America."
Federalism is the division of power between a central government and regional
governments
Republicanism is a form of government in which power resides in the people and is
exercised by their elected representatives.
Separation of powers is the assignment of the lawmaking, law-enforcing, and law-
interpreting functions of government to independent legislative, executive, and judicial
branches, respectively. Separation of powers safeguards liberty by ensuring that all government
power does not fall into the hands of a single person or group of people.
examples of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances only Congress can enact laws.
But the president (through the veto power) can cancel them, and the courts (by finding that a
law violates the Constitution) can strike them down.
,Ex of conventional participation voting, signing petitions, campaigning, lawsuits, letter
writing, lobbying, political parties
ex of unconventional participation ▪ strikes, demonstrations, sit-ins
FUnctions of interest groups representation, participation, education, agenda building,
program monitoring
Basic steps of the legislative process 1. An idea (bill) is introduced by a member of
Congress
◻ 2.Idea is sent to the relevant committee. It may/may not be debated. If not debated=dies, If
debated, committee makes changes
◻ 3.Bill is sent from committee to whole chamber, may/may not be debated. If not
debated=dies, If debated whole chamber may make changes (Committee in House v Filibuster
in Senate)
◻ 4.Chamber votes on bill, majority vote. If not passed=dies.
◻ 5.If passed, sent to other chamber. (Repeat steps 1-4)
◻ If passes, both chambers must agree on same bill, down to exact wording
◻ If ⅔ vote is obtained by BOTH chambers, new law is sent to President
Formal powers of the president Veto power, command armed forces, pardoning power,
appointment powers, make treaties, convene Congress
libertarianism economic theory Laissez-faire
libertarianism opposes government control
values freedom over order
, equality of opportunity same chance to succeed
equality of outcome equal shares of wealth for everyone
majoritarian model the majority of the citizens decide who will govern
who has sovereign power in a republican gov people
dual federalism A system of government in which both the states and the national
government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
tense
separation of powers no one branch has all the power
executive, legislative, and judicial branches are separate
judicial branch Interprets the laws
executive branch Carries out the laws
power to pardon
legislative branch Makes laws
confirmation power
how can a veto be overruled 2/3 of congress votes to override it
What is a republic? A government without a monarch, rooted in the consent of the
governed whose power is exercised by elected representatives responsible to the governed
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation One Branch Congress, could not tax, coin
money, raise an army, regulate trade/commerce
States had all power
No central leadership or cooperation among states
No court system
Hard to change, required unanimous agreement to amend
Key elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans and the Great Compromise Virginia Plan:
separation of the government into three branches, proportional representation in legislature
New jersey plan: a set of nine resolutions that would have, in effect, preserved the Articles of
Confederation by amending rather than replacing them
Great compromise: a plan calling for a bicameral legislature in which the House of
Representatives would be apportioned according to population
Key positions/arguments of the Federalists and Antifederalists Federalist: pro Constitution
Antifederalist: against Constitution
Federalist 10 Argued that the proposed constitution was designed "to break and control the
violence of faction." (pluralist democracy)
Federalist 51 James Madison. "ambition must be made to counteract ambition," he argued
that the separation of powers and checks and balances would control efforts at tyranny from
any source.
,Arguments for bill of rights ▪ They restrain the national government from tampering with
fundamental rights and civil liberties, and emphasize the limited character of the national
government's power
Arguments against bill of rights Because the national government was limited to those
powers that were granted to it and because no power was granted to abridge the people's
liberties, a list of guaranteed freedoms was not necessary.
4 elements of preamble It creates a people: "We the people of the United States" was a
dramatic departure from a loose confederation of states.
It explains the reason for the Constitution: "in order to form a more perfect Union" was an
indirect way of saying that the first effort, the Articles of Confederation, had been inadequate.
It articulates goals: "[to] establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity"—in other words, the government exists to promote order and freedom.
It fashions a government: "do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America."
Federalism is the division of power between a central government and regional
governments
Republicanism is a form of government in which power resides in the people and is
exercised by their elected representatives.
Separation of powers is the assignment of the lawmaking, law-enforcing, and law-
interpreting functions of government to independent legislative, executive, and judicial
branches, respectively. Separation of powers safeguards liberty by ensuring that all government
power does not fall into the hands of a single person or group of people.
examples of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances only Congress can enact laws.
But the president (through the veto power) can cancel them, and the courts (by finding that a
law violates the Constitution) can strike them down.
,Ex of conventional participation voting, signing petitions, campaigning, lawsuits, letter
writing, lobbying, political parties
ex of unconventional participation ▪ strikes, demonstrations, sit-ins
FUnctions of interest groups representation, participation, education, agenda building,
program monitoring
Basic steps of the legislative process 1. An idea (bill) is introduced by a member of
Congress
◻ 2.Idea is sent to the relevant committee. It may/may not be debated. If not debated=dies, If
debated, committee makes changes
◻ 3.Bill is sent from committee to whole chamber, may/may not be debated. If not
debated=dies, If debated whole chamber may make changes (Committee in House v Filibuster
in Senate)
◻ 4.Chamber votes on bill, majority vote. If not passed=dies.
◻ 5.If passed, sent to other chamber. (Repeat steps 1-4)
◻ If passes, both chambers must agree on same bill, down to exact wording
◻ If ⅔ vote is obtained by BOTH chambers, new law is sent to President
Formal powers of the president Veto power, command armed forces, pardoning power,
appointment powers, make treaties, convene Congress
libertarianism economic theory Laissez-faire
libertarianism opposes government control
values freedom over order
, equality of opportunity same chance to succeed
equality of outcome equal shares of wealth for everyone
majoritarian model the majority of the citizens decide who will govern
who has sovereign power in a republican gov people
dual federalism A system of government in which both the states and the national
government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
tense
separation of powers no one branch has all the power
executive, legislative, and judicial branches are separate
judicial branch Interprets the laws
executive branch Carries out the laws
power to pardon
legislative branch Makes laws
confirmation power
how can a veto be overruled 2/3 of congress votes to override it
