Pre-Assessment WGU American Politics and the US Constitution
C963
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? -
Answer - James Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - Answer - They did not
have elected representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the
Constitution? - Answer - The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national
judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - Answer - They wanted a government based on the representation of the
population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
that was finalized in the Constitution establish? - Answer - A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - Answer - It allowed slave states
to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? -
Answer - A strong national government is better for national defense and economic
growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be
made to counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - Answer - Separation of powers
and checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - Answer - The Supreme Court can
declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - Answer - State government and national government
have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? -
Answer - Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than
individual members of the House of Representatives? - Answer - The smaller total
number of Senate members compared to the number of representatives
, What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? -
Answer - Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of
voters in each district
What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - Answer - Bills
change significantly through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - Answer - Appointing
judges
What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? -
Answer - The power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - Answer -
The 22nd Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - Answer - To establish agreements with
foreign countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? -
Answer - It established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - Answer - 13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - Answer - 9
What is a power reserved for the state? - Answer - Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - Answer - The 10th
Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - Answer - A loose
constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - Answer - The candidate
who wins the popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice
president? - Answer - The 12th Amendment
What is true about campaign ads in primary elections? - Answer - They often try to raise
the name recognition of a candidate
How are elections for the U.S. Senate conducted? - Answer - One-third of the Senate
seats are up for election every two years
C963
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? -
Answer - James Madison
Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - Answer - They did not
have elected representatives in the House of Commons
What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the
Constitution? - Answer - The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national
judiciary
Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a
Congress? - Answer - They wanted a government based on the representation of the
population
What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
that was finalized in the Constitution establish? - Answer - A two-chamber congress
What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - Answer - It allowed slave states
to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? -
Answer - A strong national government is better for national defense and economic
growth
Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be
made to counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - Answer - Separation of powers
and checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - Answer - The Supreme Court can
declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional
What describes dual federalism? - Answer - State government and national government
have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions
Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? -
Answer - Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour
What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than
individual members of the House of Representatives? - Answer - The smaller total
number of Senate members compared to the number of representatives
, What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? -
Answer - Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of
voters in each district
What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - Answer - Bills
change significantly through House and Senate revisions
Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - Answer - Appointing
judges
What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? -
Answer - The power of Congress to impeach the president
Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - Answer -
The 22nd Ammendment
What is the purpose of executive agreements? - Answer - To establish agreements with
foreign countries without congressional approval
What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? -
Answer - It established the principle of judicial review
How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - Answer - 13
How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - Answer - 9
What is a power reserved for the state? - Answer - Conducting elections
Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - Answer - The 10th
Amendment
What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - Answer - A loose
constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
How do most states award votes in the Electoral College? - Answer - The candidate
who wins the popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state
Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice
president? - Answer - The 12th Amendment
What is true about campaign ads in primary elections? - Answer - They often try to raise
the name recognition of a candidate
How are elections for the U.S. Senate conducted? - Answer - One-third of the Senate
seats are up for election every two years
