WGU C963 AMERICAN POLITICS AND
US CONSTITUTION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Social Contract - ANS An agreement between people and government in which citizens
consent to being governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights - ANS the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to
life, liberty, and property
State of Nature - ANS A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence. is a condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily, prior to the existence of
society. We are physically and mentally capable of achieving our own survival.
Montesquieu (1689-1755) - ANS contribution in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) regards the
structure of political institutions. He argues for a separation of powers: legislative, executive,
and judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the harm each might
do. separates power to offset the power of different social interests: ordinary people, the
aristocracy, and the monarch.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): - ANS One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of
the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher. Hobbes argues that society is
not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. We do this to
resolve problems we collectively face, to make our lives better. State of Nature: it's "a war of all
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 54
,against all." Basically, the state of nature is a pretty nasty place where lives are perpetually
insecure.
John Locke (1632-1704) - ANS we are autonomous individuals, capable of using reason, and
are driven to advance our personal interests. Our primary interest is survival, which we want to
make secure and comfortable. To achieve this security and comfort, we acquire property. Two
Treatises of Government, disagrees, saying the state of nature is a relatively decent place. All its
inhabitants are rational people, mindful of the basic law of nature to not harm another, and
people will get along okay. But our relationship in the state of nature is "inconvenient," implying
an incentive for us to devise a better, more convenient arrangement.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) - ANS A French man who believed that humans are
naturally good and free and can rely on their instincts. He also advocated a democracy because
he believed the government should exist to protect common good. Like other Enlightenment
thinkers, he was passionately committed to individual freedom, but he attacked rationalism and
civilization as destroying, rather than liberating, the individual. He also called for a rigid division
of gender roles, believing women should be subordinate in social life. His ideals greatly
influenced the early romantic movement, which rebelled against the culture of the
Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century. Rousseau was both one of the most influential
voices of the Enlightenment and, in his rejection of rationalism and social discourse, a harbinger
of reaction against Enlightenment ideas.
Constitution is influenced by the Enlightenment - ANS (Separation of powers) embodies
Montesquieu's principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power, placing
each into the hands of different political actors.
Bill of Rights influenced by Enlightenment - ANS · The First Amendment gives us a definitive
declaration for the protection of natural rights. Protections of individual conscience as well as
protections for democratic participation (John Lock ideology).
· The Second Amendment, which also embodies Lockean ideas, permits the possession of arms
for the "security of a free State."14 In this Amendment, the right to rebellion is established.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 54
,· Due process says all citizens are subject to fair and equitable treatment.
· The Fourth - Eighth Amendments serve to both limit the power government has over us and
lay out procedures which must be followed when dealing with us.
· The Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the list of rights protected in the first eight
Amendments is not exhaustive and that we, the people, can assert additional natural rights
when we see fit (at least in theory.)
· The Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not specifically granted to the federal
government are retained by the states and the people (these last two are Lockean ideals)
Declaration of Independence influenced by Enlightenment - ANS Locke maintains that society
is a rational but voluntary expression. Government, which serves to regulate the terms of the
social contact on which society is created, serves to protect our natural rights and serve as a
democratic conduit for our interests. Most important of our natural rights are liberty and
property.
National Government under the Articles of Confederation - ANS unicameral congress, or one
chamber known as the Confederation Congress. no executive or judicial branch. Functions in
order to make sure that the national government did not have too much power and that the
power of the states remained protected. had the authority to exchange ambassadors and make
treaties with foreign governments and Indian tribes, declare war, coin currency and borrow
money, and settle disputes between states. Each state legislature appointed delegates to the
Congress; these men could be recalled at any time. Regardless of its size or the number of
delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one vote. Delegates could serve for no
more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite professional politicians develop. The
nation would have no independent chief executive or judiciary. Nine votes were required before
the central government could act, and the Articles of Confederation could be changed only by
unanimous approval of all 13 states.
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, Powers under the Articles of Confederation (national government): - ANS The Power to
Borrow and Coin Money
The Power to Declare War
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans
The Power to Settle Disputes among Other States
The Power to Borrow and Coin Money (National Government) - ANS The national
government could make the currency of the United States, known as Continental currency. It
could also borrow money from other nations to cover the country's debts that remained from
fighting during the American Revolution. This power to borrow and coin money was limited, as
the national government had to rely on the states for enough money to cover debts and back
any loans taken from other countries.
The Power to Declare War (National Government) - ANS The national government could
declare war as it deemed appropriate with other nations. It could also appoint military officials.
However, this power was limited. The national government could declare war, but there was no
national military to draw soldiers from. The soldiers came from the individual states.
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations (National Government) -
ANS The national government could enter into treaties or agreements with other nations as
it deemed appropriate. Under this power, the national government could also appoint foreign
ambassadors.
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans (National Government): - ANS The
national government was given power to negotiate and regulate trade with the Native
Americans. Native Americans were not considered citizens of the United States and were
treated as foreign nations by the both the national and state governments.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 54
US CONSTITUTION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Social Contract - ANS An agreement between people and government in which citizens
consent to being governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights - ANS the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to
life, liberty, and property
State of Nature - ANS A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence. is a condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily, prior to the existence of
society. We are physically and mentally capable of achieving our own survival.
Montesquieu (1689-1755) - ANS contribution in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) regards the
structure of political institutions. He argues for a separation of powers: legislative, executive,
and judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the harm each might
do. separates power to offset the power of different social interests: ordinary people, the
aristocracy, and the monarch.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): - ANS One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of
the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher. Hobbes argues that society is
not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. We do this to
resolve problems we collectively face, to make our lives better. State of Nature: it's "a war of all
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 54
,against all." Basically, the state of nature is a pretty nasty place where lives are perpetually
insecure.
John Locke (1632-1704) - ANS we are autonomous individuals, capable of using reason, and
are driven to advance our personal interests. Our primary interest is survival, which we want to
make secure and comfortable. To achieve this security and comfort, we acquire property. Two
Treatises of Government, disagrees, saying the state of nature is a relatively decent place. All its
inhabitants are rational people, mindful of the basic law of nature to not harm another, and
people will get along okay. But our relationship in the state of nature is "inconvenient," implying
an incentive for us to devise a better, more convenient arrangement.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) - ANS A French man who believed that humans are
naturally good and free and can rely on their instincts. He also advocated a democracy because
he believed the government should exist to protect common good. Like other Enlightenment
thinkers, he was passionately committed to individual freedom, but he attacked rationalism and
civilization as destroying, rather than liberating, the individual. He also called for a rigid division
of gender roles, believing women should be subordinate in social life. His ideals greatly
influenced the early romantic movement, which rebelled against the culture of the
Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century. Rousseau was both one of the most influential
voices of the Enlightenment and, in his rejection of rationalism and social discourse, a harbinger
of reaction against Enlightenment ideas.
Constitution is influenced by the Enlightenment - ANS (Separation of powers) embodies
Montesquieu's principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power, placing
each into the hands of different political actors.
Bill of Rights influenced by Enlightenment - ANS · The First Amendment gives us a definitive
declaration for the protection of natural rights. Protections of individual conscience as well as
protections for democratic participation (John Lock ideology).
· The Second Amendment, which also embodies Lockean ideas, permits the possession of arms
for the "security of a free State."14 In this Amendment, the right to rebellion is established.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 54
,· Due process says all citizens are subject to fair and equitable treatment.
· The Fourth - Eighth Amendments serve to both limit the power government has over us and
lay out procedures which must be followed when dealing with us.
· The Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the list of rights protected in the first eight
Amendments is not exhaustive and that we, the people, can assert additional natural rights
when we see fit (at least in theory.)
· The Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not specifically granted to the federal
government are retained by the states and the people (these last two are Lockean ideals)
Declaration of Independence influenced by Enlightenment - ANS Locke maintains that society
is a rational but voluntary expression. Government, which serves to regulate the terms of the
social contact on which society is created, serves to protect our natural rights and serve as a
democratic conduit for our interests. Most important of our natural rights are liberty and
property.
National Government under the Articles of Confederation - ANS unicameral congress, or one
chamber known as the Confederation Congress. no executive or judicial branch. Functions in
order to make sure that the national government did not have too much power and that the
power of the states remained protected. had the authority to exchange ambassadors and make
treaties with foreign governments and Indian tribes, declare war, coin currency and borrow
money, and settle disputes between states. Each state legislature appointed delegates to the
Congress; these men could be recalled at any time. Regardless of its size or the number of
delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one vote. Delegates could serve for no
more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite professional politicians develop. The
nation would have no independent chief executive or judiciary. Nine votes were required before
the central government could act, and the Articles of Confederation could be changed only by
unanimous approval of all 13 states.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 54
, Powers under the Articles of Confederation (national government): - ANS The Power to
Borrow and Coin Money
The Power to Declare War
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans
The Power to Settle Disputes among Other States
The Power to Borrow and Coin Money (National Government) - ANS The national
government could make the currency of the United States, known as Continental currency. It
could also borrow money from other nations to cover the country's debts that remained from
fighting during the American Revolution. This power to borrow and coin money was limited, as
the national government had to rely on the states for enough money to cover debts and back
any loans taken from other countries.
The Power to Declare War (National Government) - ANS The national government could
declare war as it deemed appropriate with other nations. It could also appoint military officials.
However, this power was limited. The national government could declare war, but there was no
national military to draw soldiers from. The soldiers came from the individual states.
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations (National Government) -
ANS The national government could enter into treaties or agreements with other nations as
it deemed appropriate. Under this power, the national government could also appoint foreign
ambassadors.
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans (National Government): - ANS The
national government was given power to negotiate and regulate trade with the Native
Americans. Native Americans were not considered citizens of the United States and were
treated as foreign nations by the both the national and state governments.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 54
