American Politics And The Us
Constitution - C963 WGU 2025 Updated
Actual Exam Questions With Answers
What was the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise)
and what were its main ideas? - Correct-answer-Also known as the Connecticut
Compromise, this was a 1787 agreement that created a bicameral legislature in
the new United States, with representation based on population in the House of
Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise - Correct-answer-During the creation of
the U.S. Constitution, an agreement made between Northern and Southern states
that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave
population for the twin purposes of federal taxation and representation in
Congress.
What did pro-slavery states hope to gain by seeking to count their enslaved
population in the population census - Correct-answer-Greater representation
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The US constitution established a national government around what three main
principles? - Correct-answer-Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and A
Federal System
Separation of Powers - Correct-answer-The division of a government's powers
among three separate branches of government, managed by different groups of
people. In the United States, the three branches of government are legislative,
executive, and judicial.
Checks and Balances - Correct-answer-Extra constitutional powers that allow
each branch of government to limit the exercise of power of the other two
branches or approve their actions. This system requires different parts of
government to work together and find agreement in order to accomplish new
official actions.
A Federal System - Correct-answer-A form of government in which power is
divided between state governments and a national government.
Enumerated Powers - Correct-answer-Powers given explicitly to the federal
government by the Constitution in Article I, Section 8). The enumerated powers
are: to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies,
declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs.
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Reserved Powers - Correct-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 as outlined in the Tenth Amendment.
What did the Federalists think about the proposed Constitution and the power of
the national government? Why? - Correct-answer-Supported the new
constitution, They tended to be among the elite members of society—wealthy
and well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders—
who believed a strong government would be better for both national defense and
economic growth. A national currency, which the federal government had the
power to create, would ease business transactions. The ability of the federal
government to regulate trade and place tariffs on imports would protect
merchants from foreign competition. Furthermore, the power to collect taxes
would allow the national government to fund internal improvements like roads,
which would also help businessmen. Support for the Federalists was especially
strong in New England
What did the Anti-Federalists think about the proposed Constitution and the
power of the national government? Why? - Correct-answer-feared the power of
the national government and believed state legislatures, with which they had
more contact, could better protect their freedoms. Related to these concerns
were fears that the strong central government for which the Federalists advocated
would levy taxes on farmers and planters who lacked the hard currency needed to
pay. The Constitution contained no provisions for government support of churches
or of religious education, and Article VI explicitly forbade the use of religious tests
to determine eligibility for public office. This caused many, like Henry Abbot of
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North Carolina, to fear that government would be placed in the hands of "pagans .
. . and Mahometans [Muslims]
The last four states to ratify the Constitution were Virginia, New York, North
Carolina and ... - Correct-answer-Rhode Island
Ratification - Correct-answer-The action of signing or otherwise officially
approving a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it legally valid
Republic - Correct-answer-A system of government in which political power is
held by the people through their ability to elect representatives who make laws
on their behalf
Habieas Corpus - Correct-answer-Meaning, in Latin, "show me the body," this is
the right for a jailed citizen to appear before a judge to hear about a criminal
charge. Habeus corpus prohibits imprisoning people without due process of law.
The Federalist Papers - Correct-answer-A series of 85 essays written and
published by several of the Founding Fathers—Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay—in 1787-88, in favor of ratifying the newly written
Constitution.