Pre-Assessment WGU American Politics and the US Constitution C963, American Politics and the US Constitution - C963, WGU C963 American Politics Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress? - ANSWER James Madison Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain? - ANSWER They did not have elected representatives in the House of Commons What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? - ANSWER The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a Congress? - ANSWER They wanted a government based on the representation of the population What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was finalized in the Constitution establish? - ANSWER A two-chamber congress What were the results of the three-fifths compromise? - ANSWER It allowed slave states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation 1 / 3
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution? - ANSWER A strong national government is better for national defense and economic growth Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51? - ANSWER Separation of powers and checks and balances What is a judicial check on the executive branch? - ANSWER The Supreme Court can declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional What describes dual federalism? - ANSWER State government and national government have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress? - ANSWER Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual members of the House of Representatives? - ANSWER The smaller total number of Senate members compared to the number of representatives What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment? - ANSWER Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in each district What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress? - ANSWER Bills change significantly through House and Senate revisions Which power does the president have under the Constitution? - ANSWER Appointing judges 2 / 3
What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain? - ANSWER The power of Congress to impeach the president Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president? - ANSWER The 22nd Ammendment What is the purpose of executive agreements? - ANSWER To establish agreements with foreign countries without congressional approval What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? - ANSWER It established the principle of judicial review How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States? - ANSWER 13 How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court? - ANSWER 9 What is a power reserved for the state? - ANSWER Conducting elections Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers? - ANSWER The 10th Amendment What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish? - ANSWER A loose constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause
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