American Politics and the US Constitution - C963
WGU Questions with Correct Answers 2026/2027
Natrual rights - CORRECT ANSWER -Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of
government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their
rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - CORRECT ANSWER -One of the first individuals to contribute to
the idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - CORRECT ANSWER -Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement - CORRECT ANSWER -the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the
workers to receive better treatment by
,Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER -A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights - CORRECT ANSWER -The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER -the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from
Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson - CORRECT ANSWER -Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -A weak constitution that governed America
during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to keep and bear arms
,Third Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -The government may not house soldiers in private
homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -It protects people against unfair searches of their
homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -A constitutional amendment designed to protect the
rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-
incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in
the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to
the federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature - CORRECT ANSWER -A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and
The Senate.
House of Representatives - CORRECT ANSWER -the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of representatives from each state, depending on population
, New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER -Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER -Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - CORRECT ANSWER -Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives
of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature - CORRECT ANSWER -One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER -Agreement that each slave counted as three-
fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER -A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER -Constitutional division of powers among the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the
executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
federal system - CORRECT ANSWER -A government that divides the powers of government
between the national government and state or provincial governments
enumerated powers - CORRECT ANSWER -The powers explicitly given to Congress in the
Constitution.
reserved powers - CORRECT ANSWER -Powers given to the state government alone
WGU Questions with Correct Answers 2026/2027
Natrual rights - CORRECT ANSWER -Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of
government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their
rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - CORRECT ANSWER -One of the first individuals to contribute to
the idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - CORRECT ANSWER -Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us.
Labor Movement - CORRECT ANSWER -the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the
workers to receive better treatment by
,Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER -A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights - CORRECT ANSWER -The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER -the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from
Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson - CORRECT ANSWER -Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -A weak constitution that governed America
during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to keep and bear arms
,Third Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -The government may not house soldiers in private
homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -It protects people against unfair searches of their
homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -A constitutional amendment designed to protect the
rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-
incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in
the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER -Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to
the federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature - CORRECT ANSWER -A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and
The Senate.
House of Representatives - CORRECT ANSWER -the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of representatives from each state, depending on population
, New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER -Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER -Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - CORRECT ANSWER -Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives
of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature - CORRECT ANSWER -One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER -Agreement that each slave counted as three-
fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation
purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER -A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER -Constitutional division of powers among the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the
executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
federal system - CORRECT ANSWER -A government that divides the powers of government
between the national government and state or provincial governments
enumerated powers - CORRECT ANSWER -The powers explicitly given to Congress in the
Constitution.
reserved powers - CORRECT ANSWER -Powers given to the state government alone
