American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963 WGU questions and
answers 2024\2025
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
Constitution - C963 WGU questions and
answers 2024\2025
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
