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WGU C963 AMERICAN POLITICS PRE-ASSESSMENT V2
2026/2027 | US Constitution | Grade A Verified | Complete
Solutions | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Philosophical Foundations & Social Contract Theory (Questions 1-12)
Q1. According to John Locke's Second Treatise of Government, which of the
following best describes the origin of legitimate political authority?
A. Divine right of kings passed through hereditary succession
B. Absolute power vested in a single sovereign to prevent civil war
C. The consent of the governed, who form government to protect natural rights to
life, liberty, and property
D. The general will of the collective, which may compel individuals to obey for their
own freedom
C. The consent of the governed, who form government to protect natural rights to
life, liberty, and property [CORRECT]
Rationale: Locke argued that legitimate government derives from the consent of the
governed and exists to protect natural rights. When government violates these
rights, the people have a right to revolution. Hobbes advocated absolute sovereignty;
Rousseau emphasized the general will.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan argues that in the state of nature, human life would
be:
A. Peaceful and cooperative because humans are naturally altruistic
B. "Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to the war of every man against every
,2
man
C. Governed by natural rights that limit individual freedom
D. Best preserved through direct democracy and majority rule
B. "Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to the war of every man against every
man [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hobbes described the state of nature as a condition of perpetual conflict
where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this, individuals
enter a social contract, surrendering natural rights to an absolute sovereign
(Leviathan) in exchange for security.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the "general will" differs from Locke's notion
of government by consent in which fundamental way?
A. Rousseau believed the general will represents what is best for the collective and
may override individual preferences; Locke emphasized protecting individual natural
rights against government overreach
B. Rousseau rejected all forms of government; Locke supported absolute monarchy
C. Rousseau advocated for hereditary aristocracy; Locke supported direct democracy
only
D. Both philosophers held identical views on the relationship between the individual
and the state
A. Rousseau believed the general will represents what is best for the collective and
may override individual preferences; Locke emphasized protecting individual natural
rights against government overreach [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rousseau's general will is a collective will aimed at the common good,
potentially compelling individuals to conform. Locke prioritized individual natural
rights and limited government through consent, making Rousseau more collectivist
and Locke more individualist.
Correct Answer: A
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Q4. Baron de Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws most directly influenced which
structural feature of the United States Constitution?
A. The establishment of a unicameral legislature
B. The separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches
C. The creation of a constitutional monarchy
D. The abolition of slavery through federal mandate
B. The separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Montesquieu advocated separating governmental powers into distinct
branches to prevent tyranny. The U.S. Constitution's tripartite structure—Congress,
President, and Judiciary—directly reflects his influence.
Correct Answer: B
Q5. A state legislature passes a law confiscating all privately owned farmland and
redistributing it to agricultural cooperatives without compensation. Which
Enlightenment philosopher's theory would most strongly support the affected
landowners' claim that this violates fundamental rights?
A. Hobbes, because the sovereign cannot be challenged
B. Rousseau, because the general will justifies collective ownership
C. Locke, because government exists to protect property rights and cannot arbitrarily
seize property without consent
D. Montesquieu, because this violates separation of powers
C. Locke, because government exists to protect property rights and cannot arbitrarily
seize property without consent [CORRECT]
Rationale: Locke identified property (estate) as a fundamental natural right that
legitimate government must protect. Arbitrary seizure of property without due
process or compensation violates the very purpose of government under Lockean
theory.
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Correct Answer: C
Q6. Which philosopher would most likely argue that a strong central authority with
absolute power is necessary to prevent society from descending into chaos?
A. John Locke
B. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C. Thomas Hobbes
D. Baron de Montesquieu
C. Thomas Hobbes [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hobbes argued that only an absolute sovereign with unlimited power can
maintain order and prevent the war of all against all. Locke and Montesquieu favored
limited government; Rousseau emphasized popular sovereignty rather than absolute
authority.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. In Rousseau's social contract theory, what happens when an individual's
particular will conflicts with the general will?
A. The individual's will automatically prevails
B. The individual may be "forced to be free" by conforming to the general will
C. The government dissolves and returns to the state of nature
D. A new social contract must be negotiated immediately
B. The individual may be "forced to be free" by conforming to the general will
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Rousseau famously stated that individuals who refuse to obey the general
will may be "forced to be free," meaning compelled to act in accordance with the
collective good. This distinguishes his philosophy from Locke's emphasis on
individual rights.
Correct Answer: B
WGU C963 AMERICAN POLITICS PRE-ASSESSMENT V2
2026/2027 | US Constitution | Grade A Verified | Complete
Solutions | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Philosophical Foundations & Social Contract Theory (Questions 1-12)
Q1. According to John Locke's Second Treatise of Government, which of the
following best describes the origin of legitimate political authority?
A. Divine right of kings passed through hereditary succession
B. Absolute power vested in a single sovereign to prevent civil war
C. The consent of the governed, who form government to protect natural rights to
life, liberty, and property
D. The general will of the collective, which may compel individuals to obey for their
own freedom
C. The consent of the governed, who form government to protect natural rights to
life, liberty, and property [CORRECT]
Rationale: Locke argued that legitimate government derives from the consent of the
governed and exists to protect natural rights. When government violates these
rights, the people have a right to revolution. Hobbes advocated absolute sovereignty;
Rousseau emphasized the general will.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan argues that in the state of nature, human life would
be:
A. Peaceful and cooperative because humans are naturally altruistic
B. "Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to the war of every man against every
,2
man
C. Governed by natural rights that limit individual freedom
D. Best preserved through direct democracy and majority rule
B. "Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to the war of every man against every
man [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hobbes described the state of nature as a condition of perpetual conflict
where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this, individuals
enter a social contract, surrendering natural rights to an absolute sovereign
(Leviathan) in exchange for security.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the "general will" differs from Locke's notion
of government by consent in which fundamental way?
A. Rousseau believed the general will represents what is best for the collective and
may override individual preferences; Locke emphasized protecting individual natural
rights against government overreach
B. Rousseau rejected all forms of government; Locke supported absolute monarchy
C. Rousseau advocated for hereditary aristocracy; Locke supported direct democracy
only
D. Both philosophers held identical views on the relationship between the individual
and the state
A. Rousseau believed the general will represents what is best for the collective and
may override individual preferences; Locke emphasized protecting individual natural
rights against government overreach [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rousseau's general will is a collective will aimed at the common good,
potentially compelling individuals to conform. Locke prioritized individual natural
rights and limited government through consent, making Rousseau more collectivist
and Locke more individualist.
Correct Answer: A
,3
Q4. Baron de Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws most directly influenced which
structural feature of the United States Constitution?
A. The establishment of a unicameral legislature
B. The separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches
C. The creation of a constitutional monarchy
D. The abolition of slavery through federal mandate
B. The separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Montesquieu advocated separating governmental powers into distinct
branches to prevent tyranny. The U.S. Constitution's tripartite structure—Congress,
President, and Judiciary—directly reflects his influence.
Correct Answer: B
Q5. A state legislature passes a law confiscating all privately owned farmland and
redistributing it to agricultural cooperatives without compensation. Which
Enlightenment philosopher's theory would most strongly support the affected
landowners' claim that this violates fundamental rights?
A. Hobbes, because the sovereign cannot be challenged
B. Rousseau, because the general will justifies collective ownership
C. Locke, because government exists to protect property rights and cannot arbitrarily
seize property without consent
D. Montesquieu, because this violates separation of powers
C. Locke, because government exists to protect property rights and cannot arbitrarily
seize property without consent [CORRECT]
Rationale: Locke identified property (estate) as a fundamental natural right that
legitimate government must protect. Arbitrary seizure of property without due
process or compensation violates the very purpose of government under Lockean
theory.
, 4
Correct Answer: C
Q6. Which philosopher would most likely argue that a strong central authority with
absolute power is necessary to prevent society from descending into chaos?
A. John Locke
B. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C. Thomas Hobbes
D. Baron de Montesquieu
C. Thomas Hobbes [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hobbes argued that only an absolute sovereign with unlimited power can
maintain order and prevent the war of all against all. Locke and Montesquieu favored
limited government; Rousseau emphasized popular sovereignty rather than absolute
authority.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. In Rousseau's social contract theory, what happens when an individual's
particular will conflicts with the general will?
A. The individual's will automatically prevails
B. The individual may be "forced to be free" by conforming to the general will
C. The government dissolves and returns to the state of nature
D. A new social contract must be negotiated immediately
B. The individual may be "forced to be free" by conforming to the general will
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Rousseau famously stated that individuals who refuse to obey the general
will may be "forced to be free," meaning compelled to act in accordance with the
collective good. This distinguishes his philosophy from Locke's emphasis on
individual rights.
Correct Answer: B
