PRE-ASSESSMENT WGU AMERICAN
POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION C963, AMERICAN
POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION - C963, WGU C963
AMERICAN POLITICS EXAM
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? - correct
answer ✔✔James Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - correct answer ✔✔They did not
have elected representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? -
correct answer ✔✔The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - correct answer ✔✔They wanted a government based on the representation of the
population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was
finalized in the Constitution establish? - correct answer ✔✔A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - correct answer ✔✔It allowed slave
states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
,What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? - correct
answer ✔✔A strong national government is better for national defense and economic growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to
counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - correct answer ✔✔Separation of powers and
checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - correct answer ✔✔The Supreme Court can
declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - correct answer ✔✔State government and national
government have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? - correct
answer ✔✔Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual
members of the House of Representatives? - correct answer ✔✔The smaller total number of
Senate members compared to the number of representatives
What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? - correct
answer ✔✔Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in
each district
What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - correct answer ✔✔Bills
change significantly through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - correct answer ✔✔Appointing
judges
, What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? - correct
answer ✔✔The power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - correct answer
✔✔The 22nd Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - correct answer ✔✔To establish agreements
with foreign countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? - correct
answer ✔✔It established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - correct answer ✔✔13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - correct answer ✔✔9
What is a power reserved for the state? - correct answer ✔✔Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - correct answer ✔✔The
10th Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - correct answer ✔✔A
loose constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - correct answer ✔✔The candidate
who wins the popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice president? -
correct answer ✔✔The 12th Amendment
POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION C963, AMERICAN
POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION - C963, WGU C963
AMERICAN POLITICS EXAM
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? - correct
answer ✔✔James Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - correct answer ✔✔They did not
have elected representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? -
correct answer ✔✔The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - correct answer ✔✔They wanted a government based on the representation of the
population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was
finalized in the Constitution establish? - correct answer ✔✔A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - correct answer ✔✔It allowed slave
states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
,What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? - correct
answer ✔✔A strong national government is better for national defense and economic growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to
counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - correct answer ✔✔Separation of powers and
checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - correct answer ✔✔The Supreme Court can
declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - correct answer ✔✔State government and national
government have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? - correct
answer ✔✔Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual
members of the House of Representatives? - correct answer ✔✔The smaller total number of
Senate members compared to the number of representatives
What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? - correct
answer ✔✔Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in
each district
What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - correct answer ✔✔Bills
change significantly through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - correct answer ✔✔Appointing
judges
, What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? - correct
answer ✔✔The power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - correct answer
✔✔The 22nd Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - correct answer ✔✔To establish agreements
with foreign countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? - correct
answer ✔✔It established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - correct answer ✔✔13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - correct answer ✔✔9
What is a power reserved for the state? - correct answer ✔✔Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - correct answer ✔✔The
10th Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - correct answer ✔✔A
loose constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - correct answer ✔✔The candidate
who wins the popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice president? -
correct answer ✔✔The 12th Amendment
