WGU C963 - Learning Checks & Quizzes Latest with complete solution

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What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government? - ANSWER A social contract According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society? - ANSWER So... ciety 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? - ANSWER Liberty and property Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of nature? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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. - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER Social contracts are created to acknowledge and protect natural rights. What is an important weakness of a social contract? - ANSWER Social contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any society. What do natural rights let you do? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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? - 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 The framers were interested in creating a national government that worked. How is unicameral Congress different from a bicameral Congress? - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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) - ANSWER 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? - ANSWER 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. Why was limiting the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation a major concern? - ANSWER Limiting the powers of the national government meant that the power of the states remained protected and would serve to prevent the national government from becoming too powerful. Although the national government had the power to declare war under the Articles of Confederation, how was this specific power limited? - ANSWER There was no national army from which to pull soldiers. The national government had to ask the individual states to send soldiers from their state militias to fight in any war. Why was the national government given power to regulate trade with the Native Americans under the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER Because Native Americans were not considered citizens of the US and were treated as foreign nations. 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. Under a confederation, the national government derives its power solely through what the states allow it to do. 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 also gave the states too much authority. How did creating a republican form of government in the United States ease the fears of the national government becoming too powerful? - ANSWER A republican form of government gave the power to the people while still allowing the states to have their own elected officials to enforce laws and policies within each state. Why was it so difficult to change the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER The Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent by all the 13 states for any changes. Even though the national government had the power to declare war under the Articles of Confederation, why was the power limited and ultimately ineffective? - ANSWER There was no national army, so the national government had to rely on the individual states to allow their soldiers to participate. Why did the United States have currency problems under the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER The new government had to rely on states to provide funds for backing a currency and paying back loans. Why was the inability to regulate trade among the states a weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER It allowed the states to make their own agreements with foreign countries without the national government knowing. Why were foreign government reluctant to loan money to the US during the time of the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER Due to the inability to tax its citizens, the national government had no money to pay any potential loans and they had no way to back up the value of its currency which increasingly became worthless. During the Constitutional Convention, how did the Virginia Plan differ from the New Jersey Plan? - ANSWER The Virginia Plan provided for greater representation, but only for some states, while the New Jersey Plan provided for equal representation for all states. What characteristics does the New Jersey Plan have? - ANSWER Unicameral legislature, smaller states would be given the same amount of power, legislature gave each state one vote regardless for their population. What characteristics does the Virginia Plan have? - ANSWER A bicameral legislature, larger states would have more power, and legislature gave votes to states based on their population. The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) sought to balance? - ANSWER Whether the people or the states are to be represented in the national government. Under the terms of the original Constitution, what would happen to a slave who escaped and fled to another state? - ANSWER Runaway slaves could be reclaimed by their owners and taken back. As a check on the power of Congress to pass laws, the president was given power to? - ANSWER Veto power allows presidents to restrain Congress from passing legislation unless they have a large enough majority to override the presidents veto. As a check on the power of the Supreme Court, Congress has the power to? - ANSWER Increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court. In what ways does Article 1 of the Constitution prevent the national government from engaging in taxation without representation? - ANSWER All bills to raise revenue must begin in the House of Representatives and both the House and Senate must approve of all revenue bills. To reinforce representational differences in the national bicameral legislature, the Great Compromise required that? - ANSWER Members of the House of Representatives be selected by the voters, and members of the Senate be selected by the state legislatures. The Anti-Federalist insistence on a Bill or Rights resulted from? - ANSWER The view that the Constitution offered little protection for liberty or natural rights. Anti-Federalists felt a more positive assertion of individual liberty and rights was necessary. As a compromise to win support to ratification of the Constitution from the Anti-Federalists, the Federalists agreed to? - ANSWER Add a bill of rights to the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists worried that the Constitution didn't do enough to protect individual rights, and the Bill or Rights was intended to fix that limitation. What group would have been least likely to support ratification of the Constitution? - ANSWER Small farmers and planters. Many small farmers and planters worried that taxes from the federal government could be difficult to pay, and that tariffs would make it harder for them to market their agricultural products overseas. What is the name of the series of essays published beginning in 1787 that argued in support of a strong federal government and the ratification of the Constitution was? - ANSWER The Federalist Papers, authored by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, made a public case for the importance of ratifying the constitution. What are the reasons James Madison found it necessary to write Federalist no. 10? - ANSWER To address the fears of the Anti-Federalists who were suspicious of a government run by elites, to get more states to support ratification of the Constitution, to inform the states that factions could be contained by a representative government. What are of trade does Congress control? - ANSWER Congress controls all international and interstate trade. What does the power of judicial review permit the courts to do? - ANSWER Judicial review gives the judicial branch the power to invalidate an act of Congress if it violates the US Constitution. What statement is true concerning the powers of the president as chief diplomat? - ANSWER The president or his/her people negotiate the treaties, but they still must be approved by the Senate. Who has the most important in foreign policy? - ANSWER The president. There are few limits on the ability of the president to conduct foreign policy. On which branch of government does the Constitution provide the most detail as it relates to powers? - ANSWER Congress. Article I is by far the longest with the greatest detail. Who decides how the government budgets and spends money? - ANSWER Congress passes budgetary bills and president signs them. What is a federal system? - ANSWER It is a division of power between national government and state governments with both levels having specific powers. What characterizes a unitary system of government? - ANSWER The central government controls virtually all spending directly or by how it delegates spending power to the local level. What is power reserved to the states under the Constitution? - ANSWER The power to structure state governments is reserved to the states. Which power is reserved power for the national government? - ANSWER The power to regulate international trade is reserved to the national government. What is a key role of supreme courts in a federal system? - ANSWER A key role of supreme courts is to resolve disputes between the national government and the state governments. What is the difference between a federal and unitary system? - ANSWER In a federal system, powers are divided between states and national governments. In a unitary, system, all power is held within the national government. How does the Bill of Rights reflect the influence of Enlightenment ideas on the Constitution? - ANSWER The Bill of Rights explicitly listed individual freedoms. What describes the general structure of the US government under the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER It was an alliance of independent states under a limited central government. What is the major difference between congressional budget committees and appropriations committees? - ANSWER While budget committees set overall spending limits, the appropriation committees are responsible for recommending specific allocations of funds. How has the Constitution's Interstate Commerce Clause been interpreted? - ANSWER Very broadly, forming the justification for much of Congress' modern-day economic regulation. What is true about Congress' power to coin money? - ANSWER Congress' money to coin money gives it the authority to print paper money and to force creditors to accept that paper money, according to the Supreme Court. Under the Constitution, who has the power related to war and peace? - ANSWER Both houses of Congress are involved in the decision to declare war, but the Constitution makes the president the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. What is a function that congressional committees serve? - ANSWER Congressional committees allow members of Congress to become experts on selected matters by concentrating their work on a few committees. What is a key role of standing committees in the House and the Senate? - ANSWER To give a detailed hearing to all proposed legislation. What is a major difference between a joint committee and a conference committee? - ANSWER A conference com [Show More]

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