WGU C963 AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US CONSTITUTION
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT (SOLVED 100%) 2023 UPDATE
Natural Rights - (Answer)The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no
government may take them away.
State of Nature - (Answer)A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence.
Due Process - (Answer)The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a fair
procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - (Answer)An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to
be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - (Answer)Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Bicameral Legislature - (Answer)A lawmaking body that consists of two separate chambers.
Popular Vote - (Answer)An election in which the winner is determined by the number of individual votes
obtained.
Virginia Plan - (Answer)A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower
house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the
lower house.
New Jersey Plan - (Answer)A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would
receive one vote.
Great Compromise - (Answer)Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A compromise between the
Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature; representation based on
population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - (Answer)A compromise between northern and southern states that called for
counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation
and representation in Congress.
Veto - (Answer)The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - (Answer)A system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of
power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together..
Separation of Powers - (Answer)The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government.
, Federal System - (Answer)A form of government which power is divided between state governments
and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - (Answer)The powers given explicitly to the federal government by the
Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war,
coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
Reserved Powers - (Answer)Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national
government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government.
Political Ideologies - (Answer)Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Ratification - (Answer)The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement,
making it officially valid.
Republic - (Answer)A system of government in which power is given to the people through their ability
to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - (Answer)The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - (Answer)A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying the
Constitution.
Faction - (Answer)A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - (Answer)A process of removing government officials suspected of criminal activity,
including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives to
accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must then vote to remove the person.
Executive Orders - (Answer)Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the force of law.
Inherent Power - (Answer)The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct
result of the country's existence.
Oversight - (Answer)The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch.
Committees - (Answer)A small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching, introducing,
and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - (Answer)Spending that can be altered from year to year through the
appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - (Answer)A model of what the government plans to spend and take in as revenue
over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary spending limits.
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT (SOLVED 100%) 2023 UPDATE
Natural Rights - (Answer)The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no
government may take them away.
State of Nature - (Answer)A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence.
Due Process - (Answer)The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a fair
procedure which it equally applies to all.
Social Contract - (Answer)An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to
be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Political Ideologies - (Answer)Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Bicameral Legislature - (Answer)A lawmaking body that consists of two separate chambers.
Popular Vote - (Answer)An election in which the winner is determined by the number of individual votes
obtained.
Virginia Plan - (Answer)A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower
house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the
lower house.
New Jersey Plan - (Answer)A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would
receive one vote.
Great Compromise - (Answer)Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A compromise between the
Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature; representation based on
population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.
Three-Fifths Compromise - (Answer)A compromise between northern and southern states that called for
counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation
and representation in Congress.
Veto - (Answer)The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress.
Checks and Balances - (Answer)A system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of
power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together..
Separation of Powers - (Answer)The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government.
, Federal System - (Answer)A form of government which power is divided between state governments
and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - (Answer)The powers given explicitly to the federal government by the
Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war,
coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
Reserved Powers - (Answer)Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national
government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government.
Political Ideologies - (Answer)Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of
government.
Ratification - (Answer)The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement,
making it officially valid.
Republic - (Answer)A system of government in which power is given to the people through their ability
to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf.
Habeas Corpus - (Answer)The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained.
The Federalist Papers - (Answer)A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying the
Constitution.
Faction - (Answer)A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest.
Impeachment - (Answer)A process of removing government officials suspected of criminal activity,
including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives to
accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must then vote to remove the person.
Executive Orders - (Answer)Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the force of law.
Inherent Power - (Answer)The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct
result of the country's existence.
Oversight - (Answer)The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch.
Committees - (Answer)A small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching, introducing,
and investigating particular policy areas.
Discretionary Spending - (Answer)Spending that can be altered from year to year through the
appropriations process.
Budget Resolution - (Answer)A model of what the government plans to spend and take in as revenue
over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary spending limits.
