WGU C963 Unit Quizzes Questions And
Answers 2022/2023
What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government? Correct
Answer: Social contract
According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society? Correct Answer: Society is the
product of human desire and effort
Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protection(s) under the social
contract? Correct Answer: Liberty and property
Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view of the state of nature? Correct Answer:
peaceful and consisted of rational human beings
According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens under the social
contract? Correct Answer: Limited authority
The primary goal of the Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: was to limit the powers of the
national government, thus providing for greater state sovereignty.
The structure of the national government under the Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: did not
mirror our current structure of government, demonstrating the need for multiple branches of
government.
The Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: limited the powers of the national government too
much, ultimately making it too weak to function.
At its foundation, the major problem with the Articles of Confederation was that Correct Answer: in the
effort to limit the possibility of tyranny by the national government, the national government was not
given enough power to effectively function.
Because the national government was limited under what it could do under the Articles of
Confederation Correct Answer: the United States had a weak economy and an international
reputation of being weak among other countries.
In order for the United States to survive Correct Answer: the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation had to be addressed with the Constitutional Convention.
At its foundation, the major problem with the Articles of Confederation was that Correct Answer: in the
effort to limit the possibility of tyranny by the national government, the national government was not
given enough power to effectively function.
Because the national government was limited under what it could do under the Articles of
Confederation Correct Answer: the United States had a weak economy and an international
reputation of being weak among other countries.
,In order for the United States to survive Correct Answer: the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation had to be addressed with the Constitutional Convention.
The Virginia Plan called for a Correct Answer: bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers with
representation based on population.
The New Jersey Plan opposed the Virginia Plan because Correct Answer: smaller states feared their
interests would be pushed aside by the more populous states.
The New Jersey Plan called for a Correct Answer: unicameral legislature in which states would have
the same representation regardless of population.
The Great Compromise satisfied the concerns over proper representation in the legislature by Correct
Answer: creating a bicameral legislature.
The Three-Fifths Compromise satisfied the concerns of the South over the counting of their slave
population by Correct Answer: allowing 60% of the slave population to be counted for state
representation and tax purposes.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? Correct Answer: Human Nature and
Natural Rights
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? Correct Answer: Society is not natural, but
created by the people.
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? Correct Answer: * Consensus among
those whom the social contract applies to
* Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? Correct Answer: * Is a thought experiment
upon which a definition of proper society and government are built
* Permits a philosophical definition of human nature.
Which statements are true about natural rights? Correct Answer: * They impart an equality of being
among all people.
* They let you do what you need to survive and be secure.
What is the purpose of a social contract? Correct Answer: To acknowledge and protect natural rights
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? Correct Answer: * It
helps to frame the type of social contract that is needed to make individual life better.
* It explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others.
Which statements describes characteristics of a social contract? Correct Answer: * A definition of
human nature
* A collective expression of a collectively shared interest
* A specification of natural rights
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? Correct Answer: * The
state of nature gives definition to natural rights.
,* The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human.
Which natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer:
Liberty
Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the potential harm of the national
government over the people? Correct Answer: Separation of powers
Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances the national government and
prevents any one section of government from having sole/complete power? Correct Answer: Checks
and balances
Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and provides Montesquieu's protections
known as due process of law? Correct Answer: The Bill of Rights
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority? Correct Answer: The
constitution
What is the Enlightenment? Correct Answer: * A period of Western European history following the
Middle Ages.
* The source of our ideas about natural rights.
Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government? Correct Answer: * The
colonists have a long history of self-government, consistent with the Enlightenment's ideas about
government by consent.
* Ideas of the Enlightenment frame the colonists' response to British violations of natural rights.
* Those immigrating to the American colonies are attracted to the Enlightenment's ideas of liberty and
property.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence American government and politics? Correct
Answer: * The protection of private property can interfere with the government's dealing with
important social needs.
* The Constitution sets up a system of government that isn't favorable to the democratic expression of
the popular will.
Which ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer: * The idea that
governments are created by people to protect their natural rights
* The natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer:
* The Constitution makes justice more important than liberty.
* The Constitution is more concerned with controlling rather than expressing the popular will.
What type of rights are contained in the Bill of Rights? Correct Answer: * The Bill of Rights contains
procedural rights.
* The Bill of Rights contains natural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive and judicial branches, is
consistent with? Correct Answer: Montesquieu's theory for the separation of political power
, The Constitution's demotion of liberty, and lack of protections for natural rights, suggests the framers
were what? Correct Answer: More interested in the practicalities of government.
How is the unicameral Congress different from a bicameral Congress? Correct Answer: A unicameral
Congress has one chamber while a bicameral Congress has two.
What was the basis of representation in Congress under the Articles of Confederation? Correct
Answer: Each state had one vote in the Congress.
Why were the powers of the national government severely limited under the Articles of
Confederation? Correct Answer: To prevent the national government from becoming too powerful or
abusing the rights of individual citizens and states.
Why was limiting the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation a major
concern? Correct Answer: It maintained the sovereignty of state governments.
Which power did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer:
To manage relationships with Indian tribes
Although the national government had the power to declare war under the Articles of Confederation,
how was this specific power limited? Correct Answer: There was no national military from which to
draw soldiers.
Why was the national government given power to regulate trade with the Native Americans under the
Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Because Native Americans were not considered citizens
of the United States and were treated as foreign nations.
Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the time of the
Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Since the national government lacked the ability to tax its
citizens, foreign governments feared that the national government would not be able to repay the
loans.
What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Congress could not
enlist men for a national army.
Why did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government? Correct Answer:
The colonists/citizens of the United States were afraid of a strong central government.
What was one reason why it was necessary to replace the Articles of Confederation? Correct
Answer: The United States lacked the military forces to defend the new country.
What powers did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer:
* The power to declare war
* The power to borrow and coin money
* The power to settle disputes among different states
After the Articles of Confederation went into effect, how was the British government able to continue
impacting what would happen in the United States? Correct Answer: * The British government could
refuse to accept the currency of the United States as a means to pay off any lingering debts.
Answers 2022/2023
What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government? Correct
Answer: Social contract
According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society? Correct Answer: Society is the
product of human desire and effort
Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protection(s) under the social
contract? Correct Answer: Liberty and property
Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view of the state of nature? Correct Answer:
peaceful and consisted of rational human beings
According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens under the social
contract? Correct Answer: Limited authority
The primary goal of the Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: was to limit the powers of the
national government, thus providing for greater state sovereignty.
The structure of the national government under the Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: did not
mirror our current structure of government, demonstrating the need for multiple branches of
government.
The Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: limited the powers of the national government too
much, ultimately making it too weak to function.
At its foundation, the major problem with the Articles of Confederation was that Correct Answer: in the
effort to limit the possibility of tyranny by the national government, the national government was not
given enough power to effectively function.
Because the national government was limited under what it could do under the Articles of
Confederation Correct Answer: the United States had a weak economy and an international
reputation of being weak among other countries.
In order for the United States to survive Correct Answer: the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation had to be addressed with the Constitutional Convention.
At its foundation, the major problem with the Articles of Confederation was that Correct Answer: in the
effort to limit the possibility of tyranny by the national government, the national government was not
given enough power to effectively function.
Because the national government was limited under what it could do under the Articles of
Confederation Correct Answer: the United States had a weak economy and an international
reputation of being weak among other countries.
,In order for the United States to survive Correct Answer: the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation had to be addressed with the Constitutional Convention.
The Virginia Plan called for a Correct Answer: bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers with
representation based on population.
The New Jersey Plan opposed the Virginia Plan because Correct Answer: smaller states feared their
interests would be pushed aside by the more populous states.
The New Jersey Plan called for a Correct Answer: unicameral legislature in which states would have
the same representation regardless of population.
The Great Compromise satisfied the concerns over proper representation in the legislature by Correct
Answer: creating a bicameral legislature.
The Three-Fifths Compromise satisfied the concerns of the South over the counting of their slave
population by Correct Answer: allowing 60% of the slave population to be counted for state
representation and tax purposes.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? Correct Answer: Human Nature and
Natural Rights
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? Correct Answer: Society is not natural, but
created by the people.
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? Correct Answer: * Consensus among
those whom the social contract applies to
* Uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? Correct Answer: * Is a thought experiment
upon which a definition of proper society and government are built
* Permits a philosophical definition of human nature.
Which statements are true about natural rights? Correct Answer: * They impart an equality of being
among all people.
* They let you do what you need to survive and be secure.
What is the purpose of a social contract? Correct Answer: To acknowledge and protect natural rights
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? Correct Answer: * It
helps to frame the type of social contract that is needed to make individual life better.
* It explains the incentive for working cooperatively with others.
Which statements describes characteristics of a social contract? Correct Answer: * A definition of
human nature
* A collective expression of a collectively shared interest
* A specification of natural rights
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? Correct Answer: * The
state of nature gives definition to natural rights.
,* The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human.
Which natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer:
Liberty
Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the potential harm of the national
government over the people? Correct Answer: Separation of powers
Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances the national government and
prevents any one section of government from having sole/complete power? Correct Answer: Checks
and balances
Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and provides Montesquieu's protections
known as due process of law? Correct Answer: The Bill of Rights
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority? Correct Answer: The
constitution
What is the Enlightenment? Correct Answer: * A period of Western European history following the
Middle Ages.
* The source of our ideas about natural rights.
Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government? Correct Answer: * The
colonists have a long history of self-government, consistent with the Enlightenment's ideas about
government by consent.
* Ideas of the Enlightenment frame the colonists' response to British violations of natural rights.
* Those immigrating to the American colonies are attracted to the Enlightenment's ideas of liberty and
property.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence American government and politics? Correct
Answer: * The protection of private property can interfere with the government's dealing with
important social needs.
* The Constitution sets up a system of government that isn't favorable to the democratic expression of
the popular will.
Which ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer: * The idea that
governments are created by people to protect their natural rights
* The natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence? Correct Answer:
* The Constitution makes justice more important than liberty.
* The Constitution is more concerned with controlling rather than expressing the popular will.
What type of rights are contained in the Bill of Rights? Correct Answer: * The Bill of Rights contains
procedural rights.
* The Bill of Rights contains natural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive and judicial branches, is
consistent with? Correct Answer: Montesquieu's theory for the separation of political power
, The Constitution's demotion of liberty, and lack of protections for natural rights, suggests the framers
were what? Correct Answer: More interested in the practicalities of government.
How is the unicameral Congress different from a bicameral Congress? Correct Answer: A unicameral
Congress has one chamber while a bicameral Congress has two.
What was the basis of representation in Congress under the Articles of Confederation? Correct
Answer: Each state had one vote in the Congress.
Why were the powers of the national government severely limited under the Articles of
Confederation? Correct Answer: To prevent the national government from becoming too powerful or
abusing the rights of individual citizens and states.
Why was limiting the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation a major
concern? Correct Answer: It maintained the sovereignty of state governments.
Which power did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer:
To manage relationships with Indian tribes
Although the national government had the power to declare war under the Articles of Confederation,
how was this specific power limited? Correct Answer: There was no national military from which to
draw soldiers.
Why was the national government given power to regulate trade with the Native Americans under the
Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Because Native Americans were not considered citizens
of the United States and were treated as foreign nations.
Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the time of the
Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Since the national government lacked the ability to tax its
citizens, foreign governments feared that the national government would not be able to repay the
loans.
What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer: Congress could not
enlist men for a national army.
Why did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government? Correct Answer:
The colonists/citizens of the United States were afraid of a strong central government.
What was one reason why it was necessary to replace the Articles of Confederation? Correct
Answer: The United States lacked the military forces to defend the new country.
What powers did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation? Correct Answer:
* The power to declare war
* The power to borrow and coin money
* The power to settle disputes among different states
After the Articles of Confederation went into effect, how was the British government able to continue
impacting what would happen in the United States? Correct Answer: * The British government could
refuse to accept the currency of the United States as a means to pay off any lingering debts.
