WGU C181 STUDY GUIDE: SURVEY OF
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
GOVERNMENT
What is sovereignty and how is it threatened in our globalized world? (correct answers)There are
different nations involved by international trade and investment and those nations may not be as
focused on sovereignty as our own nation.
What are the fundamental values of American democracy? (correct answers)Equality
Freedom-Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Order
How are these values shown in the two dilemmas of government? (correct answers)Freedom but not
total due to following government laws vs Equality for Political equality, opportunity, outcome of social
and economic equality.
Equality of opportunity (correct answers)Each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life.
Ex: Public school, libraries, start own business, travel, Capitalism, patents, copyrights.
INCREASE OUR FREEDOM
Equality of outcome (correct answers)Concept that society/government must ensure that people are
equal in rights of economic and social outcomes. Government must design and enforce policies to
redistribute wealth and status.
Ex: Equal pay for equal work, university funding, Obamacare
INCREASE OUR ORDER
Political equality (correct answers)Political equality in decision making.
Ex: one vote per person and all votes are equal. Anyone can run for office or start a political party.
INCREASE OUR FREEDOM
Social equality (correct answers)Government must ensure that people are equal in outcome.
What are the major purposes of government? (correct answers)Order, public goods, equality
Which major purpose of the government is most controversial? (correct answers)Promoting equality
,Chapter 2 (correct answers)chapter 2 democracy
What are the types of direct democracy? (correct answers)All citizens run government personally
All citizens vote for laws, taxes, gov. actions
Small towns in municipal gov.
What is indirect democracy (representative democracy)? (correct answers)All citizens vote for gov
leaders. Elected leaders represent the people
Based on Popular Sovereignty
What are the basic concepts of Majoritarian democracy? (correct answers)Majority Rule
Politically Equal
Universal participation
Voter knowledge
Listen to all public opinion polls
What are the basic concepts of Pluralist democracy (correct answers)Plural group participation
Organized interest groups
Majority of citizens silent/no participation
Interest groups promote own agenda
How does elite theory differ? (correct answers)Gov controlled by small wealthy group, most Americans
are not represented in democracy.
Chapter 3 (correct answers)chapter 3 Articles of Constitution
Explain Thomas Jefferson's ideas on unalienable rights as they are found in the Declaration of
Independence. (correct answers)Liberties, rights, pursuit of happiness
Gov authority thru the people
People may rid old gov and start new one
Free and independent (no kings)
Social contract theory (correct answers)People have a collective right to set up or change their gov and
establish their society or nation.
, Popular sovereignty (correct answers)Power and authority of gov rule based on the power, right and
consent of the people given to go based on idea of social contract theory.
Republicanism (correct answers)gov with popular sovereignty where citizens elect their rep.-indirect
democracy
How did trade wars and events like Shay's rebellion expose some of the weaknesses? (correct
answers)High tax on farms
Soldiers not paid
What are the four elements that form the foundation of the American political tradition in the Preamble
of the Constitution? (correct answers)More perfect union
we the people
Republicanism Principal (correct answers)Power reside with the people-Rule of Law not Rule of Man
Separation of Powers (correct answers)Legislative-Law making
Executive-enforcement
Judicial-interpretation
Federalism (correct answers)Based on Gov levels-national/states, taxes and laws. Each level is over
different powers.
Checks and Balances (correct answers)Power to audit other branches
Article I (correct answers)Legislative Branch-Congress
2 Chambers
Republicanism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Article II (correct answers)Executive Branch
President and Bureaucracies Republicanism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Article III (correct answers)Judicial Branch
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
GOVERNMENT
What is sovereignty and how is it threatened in our globalized world? (correct answers)There are
different nations involved by international trade and investment and those nations may not be as
focused on sovereignty as our own nation.
What are the fundamental values of American democracy? (correct answers)Equality
Freedom-Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Order
How are these values shown in the two dilemmas of government? (correct answers)Freedom but not
total due to following government laws vs Equality for Political equality, opportunity, outcome of social
and economic equality.
Equality of opportunity (correct answers)Each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life.
Ex: Public school, libraries, start own business, travel, Capitalism, patents, copyrights.
INCREASE OUR FREEDOM
Equality of outcome (correct answers)Concept that society/government must ensure that people are
equal in rights of economic and social outcomes. Government must design and enforce policies to
redistribute wealth and status.
Ex: Equal pay for equal work, university funding, Obamacare
INCREASE OUR ORDER
Political equality (correct answers)Political equality in decision making.
Ex: one vote per person and all votes are equal. Anyone can run for office or start a political party.
INCREASE OUR FREEDOM
Social equality (correct answers)Government must ensure that people are equal in outcome.
What are the major purposes of government? (correct answers)Order, public goods, equality
Which major purpose of the government is most controversial? (correct answers)Promoting equality
,Chapter 2 (correct answers)chapter 2 democracy
What are the types of direct democracy? (correct answers)All citizens run government personally
All citizens vote for laws, taxes, gov. actions
Small towns in municipal gov.
What is indirect democracy (representative democracy)? (correct answers)All citizens vote for gov
leaders. Elected leaders represent the people
Based on Popular Sovereignty
What are the basic concepts of Majoritarian democracy? (correct answers)Majority Rule
Politically Equal
Universal participation
Voter knowledge
Listen to all public opinion polls
What are the basic concepts of Pluralist democracy (correct answers)Plural group participation
Organized interest groups
Majority of citizens silent/no participation
Interest groups promote own agenda
How does elite theory differ? (correct answers)Gov controlled by small wealthy group, most Americans
are not represented in democracy.
Chapter 3 (correct answers)chapter 3 Articles of Constitution
Explain Thomas Jefferson's ideas on unalienable rights as they are found in the Declaration of
Independence. (correct answers)Liberties, rights, pursuit of happiness
Gov authority thru the people
People may rid old gov and start new one
Free and independent (no kings)
Social contract theory (correct answers)People have a collective right to set up or change their gov and
establish their society or nation.
, Popular sovereignty (correct answers)Power and authority of gov rule based on the power, right and
consent of the people given to go based on idea of social contract theory.
Republicanism (correct answers)gov with popular sovereignty where citizens elect their rep.-indirect
democracy
How did trade wars and events like Shay's rebellion expose some of the weaknesses? (correct
answers)High tax on farms
Soldiers not paid
What are the four elements that form the foundation of the American political tradition in the Preamble
of the Constitution? (correct answers)More perfect union
we the people
Republicanism Principal (correct answers)Power reside with the people-Rule of Law not Rule of Man
Separation of Powers (correct answers)Legislative-Law making
Executive-enforcement
Judicial-interpretation
Federalism (correct answers)Based on Gov levels-national/states, taxes and laws. Each level is over
different powers.
Checks and Balances (correct answers)Power to audit other branches
Article I (correct answers)Legislative Branch-Congress
2 Chambers
Republicanism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Article II (correct answers)Executive Branch
President and Bureaucracies Republicanism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Article III (correct answers)Judicial Branch
