WGU C181 Study Guide: Survey of United States Constitution and
Government
Course Overview: This course provides a foundational understanding of the U.S.
Constitution, the structure and function of the U.S. government, the political process,
and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Competency 1: The Foundations and Development of the U.S.
Constitution
Key Topics: Philosophical foundations, historical context (Articles of Confederation,
Constitutional Convention), major compromises, principles of government, and
federalism.
Key Terms:
Natural Rights: Rights inherent to human beings, not dependent on governments (life,
liberty, property).
Social Contract: An agreement where people sacrifice some liberty to a government in
exchange for protection of their remaining rights.
Republicanism: A form of government where the people elect representatives to make
and enforce laws.
Articles of Confederation: The first U.S. constitution; created a weak central
government with no power to tax or regulate commerce.
Shays' Rebellion: An uprising of Massachusetts farmers that exposed the weakness of
the Articles of Confederation.
Great (Connecticut) Compromise: Created a bicameral legislature: House (by
population) and Senate (equal representation).
Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted enslaved persons as 3/5 of a person for
representation and taxation.
Separation of Powers: Dividing government power among the legislative, executive,
and judicial branches.
Checks and Balances: Each branch has powers to check the other two, preventing any
one branch from becoming too powerful.
, Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a central
(national) government and regional (state) governments.
Enumerated/Expressed Powers: Powers specifically granted to the national
government (Article I, Section 8).
Reserved Powers: Powers not delegated to the national government and not
prohibited to the states are reserved for the states (10th Amendment).
Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by both the national and state governments (e.g.,
power to tax).
Implied Powers: Powers of the national government derived from the Elastic/Necessary
and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18).
Full Faith and Credit Clause: Requires states to respect the public acts, records, and
judicial proceedings of other states.
Illustrative Questions & Answers:
1. What was the primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
o ANSWER ✓ The national government lacked the power to tax and regulate interstate
commerce, making it ineffective and unable to address economic crises or maintain
order.
2. How did Shays' Rebellion influence the Constitutional Convention?
o ANSWER ✓ It demonstrated the extreme weakness of the national government under
the Articles of Confederation and convinced many elites that a stronger central
government was necessary to ensure stability and protect property rights.
3. What problem did the Great Compromise solve?
o ANSWER ✓ It resolved the conflict between large and small states over representation
in the national legislature by creating a bicameral (two-house) Congress: the House of
Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation for each
state).
4. Define the principle of separation of powers.
o ANSWER ✓ It is the division of governmental power into three distinct branches: the
legislative branch (makes laws), the executive branch (enforces laws), and the judicial
branch (interprets laws).
5. How does the system of checks and balances work?
o ANSWER ✓ It allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other two.
For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can
override that veto with a 2/3 vote in each house.
6. What is the difference between enumerated powers and reserved powers?
Government
Course Overview: This course provides a foundational understanding of the U.S.
Constitution, the structure and function of the U.S. government, the political process,
and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Competency 1: The Foundations and Development of the U.S.
Constitution
Key Topics: Philosophical foundations, historical context (Articles of Confederation,
Constitutional Convention), major compromises, principles of government, and
federalism.
Key Terms:
Natural Rights: Rights inherent to human beings, not dependent on governments (life,
liberty, property).
Social Contract: An agreement where people sacrifice some liberty to a government in
exchange for protection of their remaining rights.
Republicanism: A form of government where the people elect representatives to make
and enforce laws.
Articles of Confederation: The first U.S. constitution; created a weak central
government with no power to tax or regulate commerce.
Shays' Rebellion: An uprising of Massachusetts farmers that exposed the weakness of
the Articles of Confederation.
Great (Connecticut) Compromise: Created a bicameral legislature: House (by
population) and Senate (equal representation).
Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted enslaved persons as 3/5 of a person for
representation and taxation.
Separation of Powers: Dividing government power among the legislative, executive,
and judicial branches.
Checks and Balances: Each branch has powers to check the other two, preventing any
one branch from becoming too powerful.
, Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a central
(national) government and regional (state) governments.
Enumerated/Expressed Powers: Powers specifically granted to the national
government (Article I, Section 8).
Reserved Powers: Powers not delegated to the national government and not
prohibited to the states are reserved for the states (10th Amendment).
Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by both the national and state governments (e.g.,
power to tax).
Implied Powers: Powers of the national government derived from the Elastic/Necessary
and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18).
Full Faith and Credit Clause: Requires states to respect the public acts, records, and
judicial proceedings of other states.
Illustrative Questions & Answers:
1. What was the primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
o ANSWER ✓ The national government lacked the power to tax and regulate interstate
commerce, making it ineffective and unable to address economic crises or maintain
order.
2. How did Shays' Rebellion influence the Constitutional Convention?
o ANSWER ✓ It demonstrated the extreme weakness of the national government under
the Articles of Confederation and convinced many elites that a stronger central
government was necessary to ensure stability and protect property rights.
3. What problem did the Great Compromise solve?
o ANSWER ✓ It resolved the conflict between large and small states over representation
in the national legislature by creating a bicameral (two-house) Congress: the House of
Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation for each
state).
4. Define the principle of separation of powers.
o ANSWER ✓ It is the division of governmental power into three distinct branches: the
legislative branch (makes laws), the executive branch (enforces laws), and the judicial
branch (interprets laws).
5. How does the system of checks and balances work?
o ANSWER ✓ It allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other two.
For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can
override that veto with a 2/3 vote in each house.
6. What is the difference between enumerated powers and reserved powers?
