C963 American Politics-WGU Questions with Correct
answers
Social Contract - ✔✔Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the
American Revolution?
The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms - ✔✔How does the Bill of Rights reflect
the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the Constitution?
The national government did not have the power to impose taxes - ✔✔What was a major
problem with the Articles of Confederation?
Slave owners could reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled - ✔✔What describes
Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution?
Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist favored strong state
governments - ✔✔What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and
the Anti-Federalists?
The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict the other
branches' powers - ✔✔How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of
checks and balances?
It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government - ✔✔What describes
the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation?
The proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5) - ✔✔Which major compromise was
made at the Constitutional Convention?
The diverse interests of the people would prevent the development of powerful political parties -
✔✔What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10?
It is used to determine the number of House representatives for each state - ✔✔What is a
primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress?
They recommended how specific funds are allocated - ✔✔Which describes the purpose of
Congressional appropriations committees?
Originating congressional spending bills - ✔✔Which power is assigned to the House under the
Constitution?
The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee - ✔✔What is an example of
checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of government?
,Appointing cabinet members - ✔✔Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress?
Andrew Johnson for firing his secretary of war - ✔✔Which president was impeached by the
House of Representatives?
It is a dual system with a federal court system and courts in each state - ✔✔What is true about
the U.S. court system?
A concurrent power - ✔✔Which type of power is a state's right to tax?
Issuing bonds to fund an infrastructure project - ✔✔What is an example of a state exercising a
concurrent power?
It determines the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the equal
proportions method - ✔✔How does apportionment influence the makeup of Congress?
To fill cabinet vacancies while bypassing Senate approval - ✔✔What is the general purpose of
the president making recess appointments?
The Supreme Court's precedents are treated as established law - ✔✔What describes the Supreme
Court's use of the judicial principal of stare decisis?
It established a loose constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause - ✔✔What was the
significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland?
Establishing laws to regulate businesses in the state - ✔✔What is an example of a state
exercising its reserve power?
A collective expression of a collectively shared interest, A definition of human nature, A
specification of natural right - ✔✔Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract?
The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human and gives definition to natural
rights - ✔✔In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract?
It explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others and it helps to frame the type of
social contract that is needed to make individual life better - ✔✔Why is it important to know
what the quality of life is like in the state of nature?
To acknowledge and protect natural rights - ✔✔What is the purpose of a social contract?
Social contracts require consensus - ✔✔What is an important weakness of a social contract?
, They let you do what you need to survive and be secure and they impart an equality of being
among all people - ✔✔Which statements are true about natural rights?
Is a thought experiment upon which a definition of proper society and government are built and
permits a philosophical definition of human nature - ✔✔Which statements are true concerning
the state of nature?
Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract and Consensus
among those whom the social contract applies to - ✔✔What conditions are required for a social
contract to work?
Society is not natural, but created by the people. - ✔✔Which of these describes the theory of the
social contract?
Human Nature and Natural Rights - ✔✔What are social contracts constructed to be compatible
with?
Since the national government lacked the ability to tax its citizens, foreign governments feared
that the national government would not be able to repay the loans. - ✔✔Why were foreign
governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the time of the Articles of
Confederation?
Congress could not enlist men for a national army. - ✔✔What was a major weakness of the
Articles of Confederation?
The colonists/citizens of the United States were afraid of a strong central government. - ✔✔Why
did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government?
The United States lacked the military forces to defend the new country. - ✔✔What was one
reason why it was necessary to replace the Articles of Confederation?
The power to settle disputes among different states, the power to declare war, the power to
borrow and coin money - ✔✔What powers did the national government have under the Articles
of Confederation?
It harmed the international reputation of the United States, It weakened the economy of the
United States, It weakened the powers of the national government too much. - ✔✔Ultimately,
why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Appoint senior officials and ask states to send troops anytime they wanted to engage in war. -
✔✔The power to draft soldiers under the Articles of Confederation required the national
government to do which of the following?
answers
Social Contract - ✔✔Which concept is an Enlightenment idea that influenced the leaders of the
American Revolution?
The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms - ✔✔How does the Bill of Rights reflect
the influence of the Enlightenment ideas on the Constitution?
The national government did not have the power to impose taxes - ✔✔What was a major
problem with the Articles of Confederation?
Slave owners could reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled - ✔✔What describes
Clause 3 of Article IV, Section 2 in the constitution?
Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalist favored strong state
governments - ✔✔What describes the opposing views in the debates between the Federalists and
the Anti-Federalists?
The branch of government must cooperate to to function, and each branch can restrict the other
branches' powers - ✔✔How do the branches of the government operate under the concept of
checks and balances?
It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government - ✔✔What describes
the general structure of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation?
The proportional representation of enslaved persons (3/5) - ✔✔Which major compromise was
made at the Constitutional Convention?
The diverse interests of the people would prevent the development of powerful political parties -
✔✔What is an argument outlined in Federalist, no. 10?
It is used to determine the number of House representatives for each state - ✔✔What is a
primary effect of the census on the functioning of Congress?
They recommended how specific funds are allocated - ✔✔Which describes the purpose of
Congressional appropriations committees?
Originating congressional spending bills - ✔✔Which power is assigned to the House under the
Constitution?
The Senate must confirm the President's Supreme Court nominee - ✔✔What is an example of
checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of government?
,Appointing cabinet members - ✔✔Which presidential power can be restricted by Congress?
Andrew Johnson for firing his secretary of war - ✔✔Which president was impeached by the
House of Representatives?
It is a dual system with a federal court system and courts in each state - ✔✔What is true about
the U.S. court system?
A concurrent power - ✔✔Which type of power is a state's right to tax?
Issuing bonds to fund an infrastructure project - ✔✔What is an example of a state exercising a
concurrent power?
It determines the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives based on the equal
proportions method - ✔✔How does apportionment influence the makeup of Congress?
To fill cabinet vacancies while bypassing Senate approval - ✔✔What is the general purpose of
the president making recess appointments?
The Supreme Court's precedents are treated as established law - ✔✔What describes the Supreme
Court's use of the judicial principal of stare decisis?
It established a loose constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause - ✔✔What was the
significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland?
Establishing laws to regulate businesses in the state - ✔✔What is an example of a state
exercising its reserve power?
A collective expression of a collectively shared interest, A definition of human nature, A
specification of natural right - ✔✔Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract?
The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human and gives definition to natural
rights - ✔✔In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract?
It explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others and it helps to frame the type of
social contract that is needed to make individual life better - ✔✔Why is it important to know
what the quality of life is like in the state of nature?
To acknowledge and protect natural rights - ✔✔What is the purpose of a social contract?
Social contracts require consensus - ✔✔What is an important weakness of a social contract?
, They let you do what you need to survive and be secure and they impart an equality of being
among all people - ✔✔Which statements are true about natural rights?
Is a thought experiment upon which a definition of proper society and government are built and
permits a philosophical definition of human nature - ✔✔Which statements are true concerning
the state of nature?
Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract and Consensus
among those whom the social contract applies to - ✔✔What conditions are required for a social
contract to work?
Society is not natural, but created by the people. - ✔✔Which of these describes the theory of the
social contract?
Human Nature and Natural Rights - ✔✔What are social contracts constructed to be compatible
with?
Since the national government lacked the ability to tax its citizens, foreign governments feared
that the national government would not be able to repay the loans. - ✔✔Why were foreign
governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the time of the Articles of
Confederation?
Congress could not enlist men for a national army. - ✔✔What was a major weakness of the
Articles of Confederation?
The colonists/citizens of the United States were afraid of a strong central government. - ✔✔Why
did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government?
The United States lacked the military forces to defend the new country. - ✔✔What was one
reason why it was necessary to replace the Articles of Confederation?
The power to settle disputes among different states, the power to declare war, the power to
borrow and coin money - ✔✔What powers did the national government have under the Articles
of Confederation?
It harmed the international reputation of the United States, It weakened the economy of the
United States, It weakened the powers of the national government too much. - ✔✔Ultimately,
why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Appoint senior officials and ask states to send troops anytime they wanted to engage in war. -
✔✔The power to draft soldiers under the Articles of Confederation required the national
government to do which of the following?
