WGU C963 - Learning Checks Complete Questions with 100%
Verified Answers
What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government?
A social contract
According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society?
Society is the product of human desire and effort
Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protections under the social contract?
Liberty and property
Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of nature?
The state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational human beings
According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens under the social
contract?
Limited authority, the social contract should provide a society in which the society has no more power
than is necessary to regulate the natural rights and co-existence of its citizens
Describe the characteristics of a social contract.
A social contract is a collective expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of human nature,
and a specification of natural rights.
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract?
Society should be a reflection of what it means to be human, and natural rights must be acknowledged
and protected in a social contract.
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature?
How bad or good life is in the state of nature will guide the need to cooperate with others, and the
subsequent social contract will help overcome the drawbacks experienced in the state of nature.
What is the purpose of a social contract?
Social contracts are created to acknowledge and protect natural rights.
What is an important weakness of a social contract?
Social contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any society.
What do natural rights let you do?
Natural rights let you do what you need to survive and be secure, and they impart an equality of all
people.
,What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for?
Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human nature and argued for a proper
society and government based on that nature.
What conditions are required for a social contract to work?
The conditions needed for a social contract to work include consensus among those involved in the
social contract and a uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to it.
What does the theory of a social contract acknowledge?
The social contract acknowledges that the people are in relationship with the government and there are
obligations the citizens have to a society.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with?
The social contract recognizes both human nature and natural rights and when constructed, natural
rights are a central part because they are too important to our individual lives.
What natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of Independence?
Liberty. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence based on the ideas of John Locke who
argued that one of our most important natural rights is liberty.
Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the potential harm of the national
government over the people?
Separation of Powers. By separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power and placing each
branch into the control of different political actors this would prevent government tyranny over the
people by limiting the harm any one branch might do on its own.
Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances the national government and
prevents any one section of government from having sole/complete power?
Checks and Balances. Prevents any one branch from gaining complete power and control over the
government by allowing each branch to monitor and influence what happens in the other branches.
Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and provides Montesquieu's protections
known as due process of law?
The Bill of Rights. This addition to the Constitution focuses on protecting the liberties or freedoms by
protecting such rights as freedom of speech and providing due process.
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority?
The Constitution. The potential for the tyranny of factional majority was a key consideration at the time
of the drafting of the Constitution.
What is the Enlightenment?
A period of Western European history following the Middle Ages (1650-1800) that occurred mainly in
Great Britain, France, and Germany. Its philosophy produced the idea of natural rights.
, Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government?
Those who settled the American colonies were seeking freedom and opportunity, and Locke's ideas
about the consent to be governed and the right to rebellion had a major influence in the establishment
of American government. Early Americans were not drawn to the idea of the divine right of kings.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence government and politics?
Separation of powers in the Constitution works to undermine popular democratic input and control, but
even when dealing with important social needs, protection of private property limits the government's
actions.
What ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration specifically mentions life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as well as the idea that
people have the right to create or abolish governments if their natural rights are at risk.
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence?
While the Declaration emphasized liberty and expressing the popular will, the Constitution was designed
to control popular will and support justice.
What type of rights are contained in the Bill of Rights?
The Bill contains both natural rights and procedural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches, is
consistent with?
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?
The framers were interested in creating a national government that worked.
How is unicameral Congress different from a bicameral Congress?
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?
All states were viewed as equal, so each state had one vote in the Congress.
Powers of the National Government under the Articles of Confederation? (5)
Borrow and coin money, declare war, make treaties and alliances with other nations, regulate trade with
Native Americans, settle disputes among other states.
Why were the powers of the national government severely limited under the Articles of Confederation?
This was a concern when creating the Articles of Confederation as the US government did not want to
create a government similar to the oppressive British government they had just declared independence
from.
Verified Answers
What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government?
A social contract
According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society?
Society is the product of human desire and effort
Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protections under the social contract?
Liberty and property
Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of nature?
The state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational human beings
According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens under the social
contract?
Limited authority, the social contract should provide a society in which the society has no more power
than is necessary to regulate the natural rights and co-existence of its citizens
Describe the characteristics of a social contract.
A social contract is a collective expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of human nature,
and a specification of natural rights.
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract?
Society should be a reflection of what it means to be human, and natural rights must be acknowledged
and protected in a social contract.
Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature?
How bad or good life is in the state of nature will guide the need to cooperate with others, and the
subsequent social contract will help overcome the drawbacks experienced in the state of nature.
What is the purpose of a social contract?
Social contracts are created to acknowledge and protect natural rights.
What is an important weakness of a social contract?
Social contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any society.
What do natural rights let you do?
Natural rights let you do what you need to survive and be secure, and they impart an equality of all
people.
,What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for?
Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human nature and argued for a proper
society and government based on that nature.
What conditions are required for a social contract to work?
The conditions needed for a social contract to work include consensus among those involved in the
social contract and a uniformity of ability and purpose among those who agree to it.
What does the theory of a social contract acknowledge?
The social contract acknowledges that the people are in relationship with the government and there are
obligations the citizens have to a society.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with?
The social contract recognizes both human nature and natural rights and when constructed, natural
rights are a central part because they are too important to our individual lives.
What natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of Independence?
Liberty. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence based on the ideas of John Locke who
argued that one of our most important natural rights is liberty.
Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the potential harm of the national
government over the people?
Separation of Powers. By separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power and placing each
branch into the control of different political actors this would prevent government tyranny over the
people by limiting the harm any one branch might do on its own.
Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances the national government and
prevents any one section of government from having sole/complete power?
Checks and Balances. Prevents any one branch from gaining complete power and control over the
government by allowing each branch to monitor and influence what happens in the other branches.
Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and provides Montesquieu's protections
known as due process of law?
The Bill of Rights. This addition to the Constitution focuses on protecting the liberties or freedoms by
protecting such rights as freedom of speech and providing due process.
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority?
The Constitution. The potential for the tyranny of factional majority was a key consideration at the time
of the drafting of the Constitution.
What is the Enlightenment?
A period of Western European history following the Middle Ages (1650-1800) that occurred mainly in
Great Britain, France, and Germany. Its philosophy produced the idea of natural rights.
, Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government?
Those who settled the American colonies were seeking freedom and opportunity, and Locke's ideas
about the consent to be governed and the right to rebellion had a major influence in the establishment
of American government. Early Americans were not drawn to the idea of the divine right of kings.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence government and politics?
Separation of powers in the Constitution works to undermine popular democratic input and control, but
even when dealing with important social needs, protection of private property limits the government's
actions.
What ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration specifically mentions life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as well as the idea that
people have the right to create or abolish governments if their natural rights are at risk.
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence?
While the Declaration emphasized liberty and expressing the popular will, the Constitution was designed
to control popular will and support justice.
What type of rights are contained in the Bill of Rights?
The Bill contains both natural rights and procedural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches, is
consistent with?
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?
The framers were interested in creating a national government that worked.
How is unicameral Congress different from a bicameral Congress?
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?
All states were viewed as equal, so each state had one vote in the Congress.
Powers of the National Government under the Articles of Confederation? (5)
Borrow and coin money, declare war, make treaties and alliances with other nations, regulate trade with
Native Americans, settle disputes among other states.
Why were the powers of the national government severely limited under the Articles of Confederation?
This was a concern when creating the Articles of Confederation as the US government did not want to
create a government similar to the oppressive British government they had just declared independence
from.
