C963 WGU 2026 AMERICAN POLITICS AND
THE US CONSTITUTION STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100% PASS
natrual rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke
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
Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live
in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process
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
A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a
government and abiding by its rules.
,Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-
Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes argues that society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement
the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental
laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
, Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787)
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
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51
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
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
Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner
THE US CONSTITUTION STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100% PASS
natrual rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke
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
Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live
in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process
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
A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a
government and abiding by its rules.
,Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-
Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes argues that society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement
the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental
laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
, Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787)
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
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51
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
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
Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner
