American Politics and the US Constitution - C963
WGU Exam Questions And Answers
Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract - ANSWER A collective
expression of a collectively shared interest
A specification of natural rights
A definition of human nature
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? -
ANSWER The state of nature gives definition to natural rights.
The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human.
What is the purpose of a social contract? - ANSWER To acknowledge and protect
natural rights
What is an important weakness of a social contract - ANSWER Social contracts require
consensus.
Which statements are true about natural rights? - ANSWER They let you do what you
need to survive and be secure.
They impart an equality of being among all people.
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? - ANSWER Permits a
philosophical definition of human nature.
Is a thought experiment upon which a definition of proper society and government are
built
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? - ANSWER Uniformity of
ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract
Consensus among those whom the social contract applies to
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? - ANSWER Society is not
,natural, but created by the people.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? - ANSWER Human
Nature and Natural Rights
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority? - ANSWER
The Constitution
What is the Enlightenment? - ANSWER The source of our ideas about natural rights
A period of Western European history following the Middle Ages.
Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government? - ANSWER
The colonists have a long history of self-government, consistent with the
Enlightenment's ideas about government by consent.
Those immigrating to the American colonies are attracted to the Enlightenment's ideas
of liberty and property.
Ideas of the Enlightenment frame the colonists' response to British violations of natural
rights.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence American government and
politics? - ANSWER The conflict between popular government and the separation of
powers creates an ideal balance of interests.
he protection of private property can interfere with the government's dealing with
important social needs.
Which ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence? - ANSWER The
natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
The idea that governments are created by people to protect their natural rights
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence? -
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 Bill of Rights? - ANSWER The Bill of Rights
,contains natural rights.
The Bill of Rights contains procedural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive and judicial
branches, is consistent with: - 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? - ANSWER More interested in the practicalities of
government.
Which system of government allows states to retain most of their power and authority
while delegating few defined powers to the national government? - ANSWER A
confederation
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? - ANSWER The Articles limited the powers
of the national government too much, making it weak and ineffective.
The Articles gave the states too much authority.
Why was it so difficult to change the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER The Articles
of Confederation required unanimous consent by all the states for any changes
Which of these are powers of the national government under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANSWER The power to declare war
Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the
time of the Articles of Confederation? - 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? - ANSWER Congress
could not enlist men for a national army.
Why did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government? -
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? -
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? -
ANSWER The power to settle disputes among different states
The power to borrow and coin money
The power to declare war
After the Articles of Confederation went into effect, how was the British government
able to continue impacting what would happen in the United States? - ANSWER The
British government was able to put pressure on the states through its occupation of
land west of the United States.
The British government could refuse to accept the currency of the United States as a
means to pay off any lingering debts.
The British government was able to form individual relationships with the states.
Ultimately, why did the Articles of Confederation fail? - ANSWER It weakened the
economy of the United States.
It harmed the international reputation of the United States.
It weakened the powers of the national government too much.
The power to draft soldiers under the Articles of Confederation required the national
government to do which of the following? - ANSWER Appoint senior officials
Ask each state to send troops any time they wanted to engage in war
How did the inability to regulate trade among the states prove to be a weakness for the
United States? - ANSWER The national government had no power to regulate the
price of goods.
Many local farmers and business owners could not survive in the economy under the
Articles of Confederation.
The inability to regulate trade allowed the states to make their own agreements with
other countries without the national government's knowing.
WGU Exam Questions And Answers
Which statement describes characteristics of a social contract - ANSWER A collective
expression of a collectively shared interest
A specification of natural rights
A definition of human nature
In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? -
ANSWER The state of nature gives definition to natural rights.
The state of nature gives definition to what it means to be human.
What is the purpose of a social contract? - ANSWER To acknowledge and protect
natural rights
What is an important weakness of a social contract - ANSWER Social contracts require
consensus.
Which statements are true about natural rights? - ANSWER They let you do what you
need to survive and be secure.
They impart an equality of being among all people.
Which statements are true concerning the state of nature? - ANSWER Permits a
philosophical definition of human nature.
Is a thought experiment upon which a definition of proper society and government are
built
What conditions are required for a social contract to work? - ANSWER Uniformity of
ability and purpose among those who agree to the social contract
Consensus among those whom the social contract applies to
Which of these describes the theory of the social contract? - ANSWER Society is not
,natural, but created by the people.
What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with? - ANSWER Human
Nature and Natural Rights
Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majority? - ANSWER
The Constitution
What is the Enlightenment? - ANSWER The source of our ideas about natural rights
A period of Western European history following the Middle Ages.
Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and government? - ANSWER
The colonists have a long history of self-government, consistent with the
Enlightenment's ideas about government by consent.
Those immigrating to the American colonies are attracted to the Enlightenment's ideas
of liberty and property.
Ideas of the Enlightenment frame the colonists' response to British violations of natural
rights.
How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence American government and
politics? - ANSWER The conflict between popular government and the separation of
powers creates an ideal balance of interests.
he protection of private property can interfere with the government's dealing with
important social needs.
Which ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence? - ANSWER The
natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
The idea that governments are created by people to protect their natural rights
In what key ways does the Constitution differ from the Declaration of Independence? -
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 Bill of Rights? - ANSWER The Bill of Rights
,contains natural rights.
The Bill of Rights contains procedural rights.
The Constitution's first three articles create separate legislative, executive and judicial
branches, is consistent with: - 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? - ANSWER More interested in the practicalities of
government.
Which system of government allows states to retain most of their power and authority
while delegating few defined powers to the national government? - ANSWER A
confederation
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? - ANSWER The Articles limited the powers
of the national government too much, making it weak and ineffective.
The Articles gave the states too much authority.
Why was it so difficult to change the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER The Articles
of Confederation required unanimous consent by all the states for any changes
Which of these are powers of the national government under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANSWER The power to declare war
Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the United States during the
time of the Articles of Confederation? - 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? - ANSWER Congress
could not enlist men for a national army.
Why did the Articles of Confederation provide for such a weak national government? -
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? -
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? -
ANSWER The power to settle disputes among different states
The power to borrow and coin money
The power to declare war
After the Articles of Confederation went into effect, how was the British government
able to continue impacting what would happen in the United States? - ANSWER The
British government was able to put pressure on the states through its occupation of
land west of the United States.
The British government could refuse to accept the currency of the United States as a
means to pay off any lingering debts.
The British government was able to form individual relationships with the states.
Ultimately, why did the Articles of Confederation fail? - ANSWER It weakened the
economy of the United States.
It harmed the international reputation of the United States.
It weakened the powers of the national government too much.
The power to draft soldiers under the Articles of Confederation required the national
government to do which of the following? - ANSWER Appoint senior officials
Ask each state to send troops any time they wanted to engage in war
How did the inability to regulate trade among the states prove to be a weakness for the
United States? - ANSWER The national government had no power to regulate the
price of goods.
Many local farmers and business owners could not survive in the economy under the
Articles of Confederation.
The inability to regulate trade allowed the states to make their own agreements with
other countries without the national government's knowing.
