American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
natrual rights - -Life, Liberty, and Property receive better treatment by
John Locke - -17th century English Constitution - -A document which spells out
philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of the principles by which a government runs and
Kings and who asserted that people have a the fundamental laws that govern a society
natural right to life, liberty, and property.
Bill of Rights - -The first ten amendments to
State of Nature - -Hypothetical condition the Constitution
assumed to exist in the absence of government
where human beings live in "complete" freedom
and general equality. Declaration of Independence - -the
document recording the proclamation of the
second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
Due Process - -involves the government's asserting the independence of the colonies from
obligation to treat all citizens fairly. Such a Great Britain
requirement lessens the extent to which
government power can be exercised over the
individual, making the power differential between Thomas Jefferson - -Wrote the Declaration
the two more fair, and ensuring a general sense of Independence
of political equality
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - -which
Social Contract - -A voluntary agreement almost resulted in potential mob rule, suggested
among individuals to secure their rights and there might be too much democracy at play, and
welfare by creating a government and abiding by that maybe individual liberty was going too far
its rules.
Articles of Confederation - -A weak
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - -One of the constitution that governed America during the
first individuals to contribute to the idea of the Revolutionary War.
social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Federalist no. 51 - -Argues that separation
of powers within the national government is the
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - - best way to prevent the concentration of power in
Hobbes argues that society is not something the hands of one person or a single group.
natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
First Amendment - -Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
Labor Movement - -the formation of labor prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
,American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and Tenth Amendment - -Amendment stating
to petition the government for a redress of that the powers not delegated to the federal gov.
grievances. are reserved to the states
Second Amendment - -Right to keep and bicameral legislature - -A law making body
bear arms made of two houses (bi means 2). Example:
Congress (our legislature) is made of two house -
The House of Representatives and The Senate.
Third Amendment - -The government may
not house soldiers in private homes without
consent of the owner House of Representatives - -the lower
house of Congress, consisting of a different
number of representatives from each state,
Forth Amendment - -It protects people depending on population
against unfair searches of their homes; search
and seizure.
New Jersey Plan - -Proposal to create a
weak national government
Fifth Amendment - -A constitutional
amendment designed to protect the rights of
persons accused of crimes, including protection Virginia Plan - -Proposal to create a strong
against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and national government
punishment without due process of law.
Constitutional Convention - -Meeting in
Sixth Amendment - -Right to a speedy and 1787 of the elected representatives of the
public trial thirteen original states to write the Constitution of
the United States.
Seventh Amendment - -Right to a trial by
jury in civil cases unicameral legislature - -One-house
legislature
Eighth Amendment - -No cruel and
unusual punishment Three-Fifths Compromise - -Agreement
that each slave counted as three-fifths of a
person in determining representation in the
Nineth Amendment - -peoples rights are House for representation and taxation purposes
not just limited to those listed in the Constitution (negated by the 13th amendment)
and Bill of Rights
Checks and Balances - -A system that
,American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent
abuse of power Republic - -A form of government in which
citizens choose their leaders by voting
Separation of Powers - -Constitutional
division of powers among the legislative, Habeas Corpus - -Constitutional protection
executive, and judicial branches, with the against unlawful imprisonment
legislative branch making law, the executive
applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary
interpreting the law Federalist Papers - -A collection of 85
articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay,
and James Madison under the name "Publius" to
federal system - -A government that defend the Constitution in detail.
divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial
governments Federalist No. 10 - -An essay composed by
James Madison which argues that liberty is
safest in a large republic because many interests
enumerated powers - -The powers (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by
explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution. the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions
will always be unstable.
reserved powers - -Powers given to the
state government alone Legislative Branch (Congress) - -makes
laws, imposes taxes, and declares war
Federalists - -Supporters of the
Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - -
and John Adams. They firmly believed the interprets the constitution and other laws, reviews
national government should be strong. They lower-court decisions
didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt
citizens' rights were already well protected by the
Constitution. Executive Branch (President) - -has the
power to enforce the law
Anti-Federalists - -Opponents of the
American Constitution at the time when the Executive Orders - -Formal orders issued
states were contemplating its adoption. by the president to direct action by the federal
bureaucracy.
Ratification - -Formal approval, final
consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, checks on the executive branch - -By
constitutional amendment, or treaty
, American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
Congress Determines size of Supreme Court
House can impeach judges and Senate can
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds remove them by two-thirds vote
vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the
Senate federalist system - -political powers are
Control of funding activities of the executive divided between national and state levels in an
branch effort to avoid concentrating control in the hands
Presidential nominees must be approved by the of one person
Senate
Only Congress can declare war
House can impeach the president or vice Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) - -
president and the Senate can remove them by a Proposed the 27th Amendment, calling for equal
two-thirds vote rights for both sexes. Defeated in the House in
By Judiciary 1972.
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial
review if the actions violate the Constitution
Fifteenth Amendment - -The constitutional
Serve during good behavior to maintain
amendment adopted in 1870 to extend suffrage
independence of judiciary
to African Americans.
Checks on Congress - -By President
Nineteenth Amendment - -The
constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that
Can veto legislation
guarantees women the right to vote.
Can use executive agreements
Can use executive orders
Negotiates treaties (not Congress)
By Judiciary Twenty-sixth Amendment - -Changed the
legal voting age from 21 to 18.
Can overturn acts of Congress as
unconstitutional if they violate the law
Can influence laws by interpretation Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - -(1996)
Serve during good behavior to maintain Defines marriage as man-woman. No state is
independence of judiciary forced to recognize same-sex marriage
Checks on Judiciary - -By President Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) - -Struck
down state bans on same sex marriage. The 14th
Nominates judges Amendment requires States to license a marriage
Power of pardon between two people of the same sex.
By Congress States must recognize a marriage between two
people of the same sex when their marriage was
Senate must approve judges and justices lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.
Controls jurisdiction of the courts (Roberts Court)
Questions with Answers Graded A+
natrual rights - -Life, Liberty, and Property receive better treatment by
John Locke - -17th century English Constitution - -A document which spells out
philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of the principles by which a government runs and
Kings and who asserted that people have a the fundamental laws that govern a society
natural right to life, liberty, and property.
Bill of Rights - -The first ten amendments to
State of Nature - -Hypothetical condition the Constitution
assumed to exist in the absence of government
where human beings live in "complete" freedom
and general equality. Declaration of Independence - -the
document recording the proclamation of the
second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
Due Process - -involves the government's asserting the independence of the colonies from
obligation to treat all citizens fairly. Such a Great Britain
requirement lessens the extent to which
government power can be exercised over the
individual, making the power differential between Thomas Jefferson - -Wrote the Declaration
the two more fair, and ensuring a general sense of Independence
of political equality
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - -which
Social Contract - -A voluntary agreement almost resulted in potential mob rule, suggested
among individuals to secure their rights and there might be too much democracy at play, and
welfare by creating a government and abiding by that maybe individual liberty was going too far
its rules.
Articles of Confederation - -A weak
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - -One of the constitution that governed America during the
first individuals to contribute to the idea of the Revolutionary War.
social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Federalist no. 51 - -Argues that separation
of powers within the national government is the
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - - best way to prevent the concentration of power in
Hobbes argues that society is not something the hands of one person or a single group.
natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
First Amendment - -Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
Labor Movement - -the formation of labor prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
,American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and Tenth Amendment - -Amendment stating
to petition the government for a redress of that the powers not delegated to the federal gov.
grievances. are reserved to the states
Second Amendment - -Right to keep and bicameral legislature - -A law making body
bear arms made of two houses (bi means 2). Example:
Congress (our legislature) is made of two house -
The House of Representatives and The Senate.
Third Amendment - -The government may
not house soldiers in private homes without
consent of the owner House of Representatives - -the lower
house of Congress, consisting of a different
number of representatives from each state,
Forth Amendment - -It protects people depending on population
against unfair searches of their homes; search
and seizure.
New Jersey Plan - -Proposal to create a
weak national government
Fifth Amendment - -A constitutional
amendment designed to protect the rights of
persons accused of crimes, including protection Virginia Plan - -Proposal to create a strong
against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and national government
punishment without due process of law.
Constitutional Convention - -Meeting in
Sixth Amendment - -Right to a speedy and 1787 of the elected representatives of the
public trial thirteen original states to write the Constitution of
the United States.
Seventh Amendment - -Right to a trial by
jury in civil cases unicameral legislature - -One-house
legislature
Eighth Amendment - -No cruel and
unusual punishment Three-Fifths Compromise - -Agreement
that each slave counted as three-fifths of a
person in determining representation in the
Nineth Amendment - -peoples rights are House for representation and taxation purposes
not just limited to those listed in the Constitution (negated by the 13th amendment)
and Bill of Rights
Checks and Balances - -A system that
,American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent
abuse of power Republic - -A form of government in which
citizens choose their leaders by voting
Separation of Powers - -Constitutional
division of powers among the legislative, Habeas Corpus - -Constitutional protection
executive, and judicial branches, with the against unlawful imprisonment
legislative branch making law, the executive
applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary
interpreting the law Federalist Papers - -A collection of 85
articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay,
and James Madison under the name "Publius" to
federal system - -A government that defend the Constitution in detail.
divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial
governments Federalist No. 10 - -An essay composed by
James Madison which argues that liberty is
safest in a large republic because many interests
enumerated powers - -The powers (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by
explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution. the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions
will always be unstable.
reserved powers - -Powers given to the
state government alone Legislative Branch (Congress) - -makes
laws, imposes taxes, and declares war
Federalists - -Supporters of the
Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - -
and John Adams. They firmly believed the interprets the constitution and other laws, reviews
national government should be strong. They lower-court decisions
didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt
citizens' rights were already well protected by the
Constitution. Executive Branch (President) - -has the
power to enforce the law
Anti-Federalists - -Opponents of the
American Constitution at the time when the Executive Orders - -Formal orders issued
states were contemplating its adoption. by the president to direct action by the federal
bureaucracy.
Ratification - -Formal approval, final
consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, checks on the executive branch - -By
constitutional amendment, or treaty
, American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU Exam
Questions with Answers Graded A+
Congress Determines size of Supreme Court
House can impeach judges and Senate can
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds remove them by two-thirds vote
vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the
Senate federalist system - -political powers are
Control of funding activities of the executive divided between national and state levels in an
branch effort to avoid concentrating control in the hands
Presidential nominees must be approved by the of one person
Senate
Only Congress can declare war
House can impeach the president or vice Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) - -
president and the Senate can remove them by a Proposed the 27th Amendment, calling for equal
two-thirds vote rights for both sexes. Defeated in the House in
By Judiciary 1972.
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial
review if the actions violate the Constitution
Fifteenth Amendment - -The constitutional
Serve during good behavior to maintain
amendment adopted in 1870 to extend suffrage
independence of judiciary
to African Americans.
Checks on Congress - -By President
Nineteenth Amendment - -The
constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that
Can veto legislation
guarantees women the right to vote.
Can use executive agreements
Can use executive orders
Negotiates treaties (not Congress)
By Judiciary Twenty-sixth Amendment - -Changed the
legal voting age from 21 to 18.
Can overturn acts of Congress as
unconstitutional if they violate the law
Can influence laws by interpretation Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - -(1996)
Serve during good behavior to maintain Defines marriage as man-woman. No state is
independence of judiciary forced to recognize same-sex marriage
Checks on Judiciary - -By President Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) - -Struck
down state bans on same sex marriage. The 14th
Nominates judges Amendment requires States to license a marriage
Power of pardon between two people of the same sex.
By Congress States must recognize a marriage between two
people of the same sex when their marriage was
Senate must approve judges and justices lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.
Controls jurisdiction of the courts (Roberts Court)
