WGU C963 Final Exam - American Politics & US
Constitution 2026-2027 | Civic Literacy &
Government Assessment
50 multiple-choice items | “Grade A” difficulty | Application & Analysis focus
SECTION 1 – Constitutional Foundations & Federalism (12 questions)
Q1. In 2025, Colorado legalizes recreational marijuana while neighboring Kansas retains
a total ban. A trucker carrying state-inspected Colorado cannabis is arrested under the
federal Controlled Substances Act in Kansas. Which constitutional principle best
explains why federal agents can enforce the CSA despite state law?
A. Full Faith & Credit
B. Supremacy Clause
C. Reserved Powers
D. Privileges & Immunities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Article VI, cl. 2 (Supremacy Clause) renders federal statutes the “supreme
Law of the Land” when Congress acts within its enumerated powers (Gonzales v. Raich,
2005). A incorrectly applies interstate recognition; C refers to 10th-Amendment state
authority, not federal override; D protects fundamental rights of interstate travelers, not
policy conflict.
,Q2. During the 1787 Convention, the “Connecticut Compromise” resolved the large- vs.
small-state dispute by:
A. apportioning both House & Senate by population.
B. creating equal state suffrage in the Senate & population-based House.
C. granting each state one electoral vote regardless of size.
D. authorizing the national legislature to veto all state laws.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bicameral structure reflects Madison’s hybrid federalism (Federalist 39). A
replicates the defeated Virginia Plan; C conflates later Electoral College; D echoes
Randolph’s rejected “legislative negative.”
Q3. A 2026 federal statute requires state motor-vehicle agencies to share driver-license
photos for an FBI facial-recognition database. States object, citing “commandeering.” A
district judge would most likely:
A. uphold the law under the Spending Clause if 5 % of highway funds are withheld.
B. strike the law under Printz v. United States (1997).
C. uphold the law under the Commerce Clause because driving is economic.
D. strike the law under Garcia v. San Antonio MTA (1985).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Printz forbids federal conscription of state executive officials. A misapplies
conditional spending (South Dakota v. Dole requires relatedness & no coercion); C
, ignores non-commercial nature of police databases; D upheld Commerce power over
wages, irrelevant to commandeering.
Q4. The Anti-Federalist writer “Brutus” warned that Article III would:
A. allow the Senate to remove judges without trial.
B. permit life tenure to produce judicial supremacy over republican self-government.
C. deny the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in any case.
D. enable states to nullify federal statutes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Brutus XV predicted life tenure would create “a judiciary oligarchy.” A
confuses impeachment (House indicts, Senate tries); C misstates Article III, §2; D
reflects later Jeffersonian doctrine, not Anti-Federalist essays.
Q5. Which Enlightenment philosopher most directly inspired the Declaration’s list of
grievances as evidence that George III had violated a “social contract”?
A. Montesquieu
B. John Locke
C. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D. Thomas Hobbes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Locke’s Second Treatise (1689) framed rebellion as justified when the
executive forfeits trust. Montesquieu (separation of powers), Rousseau (general will),
Constitution 2026-2027 | Civic Literacy &
Government Assessment
50 multiple-choice items | “Grade A” difficulty | Application & Analysis focus
SECTION 1 – Constitutional Foundations & Federalism (12 questions)
Q1. In 2025, Colorado legalizes recreational marijuana while neighboring Kansas retains
a total ban. A trucker carrying state-inspected Colorado cannabis is arrested under the
federal Controlled Substances Act in Kansas. Which constitutional principle best
explains why federal agents can enforce the CSA despite state law?
A. Full Faith & Credit
B. Supremacy Clause
C. Reserved Powers
D. Privileges & Immunities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Article VI, cl. 2 (Supremacy Clause) renders federal statutes the “supreme
Law of the Land” when Congress acts within its enumerated powers (Gonzales v. Raich,
2005). A incorrectly applies interstate recognition; C refers to 10th-Amendment state
authority, not federal override; D protects fundamental rights of interstate travelers, not
policy conflict.
,Q2. During the 1787 Convention, the “Connecticut Compromise” resolved the large- vs.
small-state dispute by:
A. apportioning both House & Senate by population.
B. creating equal state suffrage in the Senate & population-based House.
C. granting each state one electoral vote regardless of size.
D. authorizing the national legislature to veto all state laws.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bicameral structure reflects Madison’s hybrid federalism (Federalist 39). A
replicates the defeated Virginia Plan; C conflates later Electoral College; D echoes
Randolph’s rejected “legislative negative.”
Q3. A 2026 federal statute requires state motor-vehicle agencies to share driver-license
photos for an FBI facial-recognition database. States object, citing “commandeering.” A
district judge would most likely:
A. uphold the law under the Spending Clause if 5 % of highway funds are withheld.
B. strike the law under Printz v. United States (1997).
C. uphold the law under the Commerce Clause because driving is economic.
D. strike the law under Garcia v. San Antonio MTA (1985).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Printz forbids federal conscription of state executive officials. A misapplies
conditional spending (South Dakota v. Dole requires relatedness & no coercion); C
, ignores non-commercial nature of police databases; D upheld Commerce power over
wages, irrelevant to commandeering.
Q4. The Anti-Federalist writer “Brutus” warned that Article III would:
A. allow the Senate to remove judges without trial.
B. permit life tenure to produce judicial supremacy over republican self-government.
C. deny the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in any case.
D. enable states to nullify federal statutes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Brutus XV predicted life tenure would create “a judiciary oligarchy.” A
confuses impeachment (House indicts, Senate tries); C misstates Article III, §2; D
reflects later Jeffersonian doctrine, not Anti-Federalist essays.
Q5. Which Enlightenment philosopher most directly inspired the Declaration’s list of
grievances as evidence that George III had violated a “social contract”?
A. Montesquieu
B. John Locke
C. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D. Thomas Hobbes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Locke’s Second Treatise (1689) framed rebellion as justified when the
executive forfeits trust. Montesquieu (separation of powers), Rousseau (general will),
