WGU C181: Survey of United States
Constitution and Government STUDY
GUIDE
Democratic socialism Answer- A socialist form of government that guarantees civil
liberties such as freedom of speech and religion. Citizens determine the extent of
government activity through free elections and competitive political parties.
Government Answer- The legitimate use of force within specified geographical
boundaries to control human behavior.
Communism Answer- A political system in which, in theory, ownership of all land and
productive facilities is in the hands of the people (in effect, to the government), and all
goods are equally shared. The production and distribution of goods are controlled by an
authoritarian government.
Laissez faire Answer- An economic doctrine that opposes any form of government
intervention in business.
Social equality Answer- Equality in wealth, education, and status.
Police power Answer- The authority of a government to maintain order and safeguard
citizens' health, morals, safety, and welfare.
Rights Answer- The benefits of government to which every citizen is entitled.
Public goods Answer- Benefits and services, such as parks and sanitation, which
benefit all citizens but are not likely to be produced voluntarily by individuals.
Socialism Answer- A form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in
regulating existing private industry and directing the economy, although it does allow
some private ownership of productive capacity.
Freedom Answer- The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without
hindrance or restraint.
Capitalism Answer- The system of government that favors free enterprise (privately
owned businesses operating without government regulation).
,Globalization Answer- The process of interaction and integration among the people,
companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international
trade and investment and aided by information technology.
Conservatives Answer- Those who are willing to use government to promote order but
not equality.
Order Answer- The rule of law to preserve life and protect property.
Communitarians Answer- Those who are willing to use government to promote both
order and equality.
Democracy Answer- A system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either
directly or indirectly.
Responsiveness Answer- A decision-making principle, necessitated by representative
government, which implies that elected representatives should do what the majority of
people want.
Substantive democratic theory Answer- The view that democracy is embodied in the
substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedure.
Democratization Answer- A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an
authoritarian form of government to a democratic one.
Universal participation Answer- The concept that everyone in a democracy should
participate in governmental decision making.
Interest group Answer- An organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public
policy; also called a lobby.
Minority rights Answer- The benefits of government that cannot be denied to any citizen
by majority decisions.
Autocracy Answer- A system of government in which the power to govern is
concentrated in the hands of one individual.
Procedural democratic theory Answer- A view of democracy as being embodied in a
decision-making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority
rule, and responsiveness.
Participatory democracy Answer- A system of government where rank-and-file citizens
rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf.
, E-government Answer- Online communication channels that enable citizens to easily
obtain information from government and facilitate the expression of opinions to
government officials.
Oligarchy Answer- A system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands
of a few people.
Executive branch Answer- The law-enforcing branch of government
Judicial branch Answer- The law-interpreting branch of government.
Judicial review Answer- The power to declare congressional (and presidential) acts
invalid because they violate the Constitution.
Electoral college Answer- A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for
president and vice president.
Confederation Answer- A loose association of independent states that agree to
cooperate on specified matters.
Enumerated powers Answer- The powers explicitly granted to Congress by the
Constitution.
Articles of Confederation Answer- The compact among the thirteen original states that
established the first government of the United States.
Bill of Rights Answer- The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They prevent the
national government from tampering with fundamental rights and civil liberties, and
emphasize the limited character of national power.
Supremacy clause Answer- The clause in Article VI of the Constitution that asserts that
national laws take precedence over state and local laws when they conflict.
Federalism Answer- The division of power between a central government and regional
governments.
Categorical grants Answer- Grants-in-aid targeted for a specific purpose by either
formula or project.
Home rule Answer- The right to enact and enforce legislation locally.
Redistricting Answer- The process of redrawing political boundaries to reflect changes
in population.
Sovereignty Answer- The quality of being supreme in power or authority.
Constitution and Government STUDY
GUIDE
Democratic socialism Answer- A socialist form of government that guarantees civil
liberties such as freedom of speech and religion. Citizens determine the extent of
government activity through free elections and competitive political parties.
Government Answer- The legitimate use of force within specified geographical
boundaries to control human behavior.
Communism Answer- A political system in which, in theory, ownership of all land and
productive facilities is in the hands of the people (in effect, to the government), and all
goods are equally shared. The production and distribution of goods are controlled by an
authoritarian government.
Laissez faire Answer- An economic doctrine that opposes any form of government
intervention in business.
Social equality Answer- Equality in wealth, education, and status.
Police power Answer- The authority of a government to maintain order and safeguard
citizens' health, morals, safety, and welfare.
Rights Answer- The benefits of government to which every citizen is entitled.
Public goods Answer- Benefits and services, such as parks and sanitation, which
benefit all citizens but are not likely to be produced voluntarily by individuals.
Socialism Answer- A form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in
regulating existing private industry and directing the economy, although it does allow
some private ownership of productive capacity.
Freedom Answer- The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without
hindrance or restraint.
Capitalism Answer- The system of government that favors free enterprise (privately
owned businesses operating without government regulation).
,Globalization Answer- The process of interaction and integration among the people,
companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international
trade and investment and aided by information technology.
Conservatives Answer- Those who are willing to use government to promote order but
not equality.
Order Answer- The rule of law to preserve life and protect property.
Communitarians Answer- Those who are willing to use government to promote both
order and equality.
Democracy Answer- A system of government in which, in theory, the people rule, either
directly or indirectly.
Responsiveness Answer- A decision-making principle, necessitated by representative
government, which implies that elected representatives should do what the majority of
people want.
Substantive democratic theory Answer- The view that democracy is embodied in the
substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedure.
Democratization Answer- A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an
authoritarian form of government to a democratic one.
Universal participation Answer- The concept that everyone in a democracy should
participate in governmental decision making.
Interest group Answer- An organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public
policy; also called a lobby.
Minority rights Answer- The benefits of government that cannot be denied to any citizen
by majority decisions.
Autocracy Answer- A system of government in which the power to govern is
concentrated in the hands of one individual.
Procedural democratic theory Answer- A view of democracy as being embodied in a
decision-making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority
rule, and responsiveness.
Participatory democracy Answer- A system of government where rank-and-file citizens
rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf.
, E-government Answer- Online communication channels that enable citizens to easily
obtain information from government and facilitate the expression of opinions to
government officials.
Oligarchy Answer- A system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands
of a few people.
Executive branch Answer- The law-enforcing branch of government
Judicial branch Answer- The law-interpreting branch of government.
Judicial review Answer- The power to declare congressional (and presidential) acts
invalid because they violate the Constitution.
Electoral college Answer- A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for
president and vice president.
Confederation Answer- A loose association of independent states that agree to
cooperate on specified matters.
Enumerated powers Answer- The powers explicitly granted to Congress by the
Constitution.
Articles of Confederation Answer- The compact among the thirteen original states that
established the first government of the United States.
Bill of Rights Answer- The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They prevent the
national government from tampering with fundamental rights and civil liberties, and
emphasize the limited character of national power.
Supremacy clause Answer- The clause in Article VI of the Constitution that asserts that
national laws take precedence over state and local laws when they conflict.
Federalism Answer- The division of power between a central government and regional
governments.
Categorical grants Answer- Grants-in-aid targeted for a specific purpose by either
formula or project.
Home rule Answer- The right to enact and enforce legislation locally.
Redistricting Answer- The process of redrawing political boundaries to reflect changes
in population.
Sovereignty Answer- The quality of being supreme in power or authority.
