WGU C963 - Learning Checks Preparations Pre- Assessment
Exam with Questions and elaborated Answers
100% Verified and tested
1. What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the
government?: A social contract
2. According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society?: Soci- ety is the
product of human desire and effort
3. Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protec- tions
under the social contract?: Liberty and property
4. Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of nature?: The
state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational human beings
5. According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens
under the social contract?: 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
6. Describe the characteristics of a social contract.: A social contract is a collec- tive
expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of human nature, and a
specification of natural rights.
7. In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract?:
Society should be a reflection of what it means to be human, and natural rights must be
acknowledged and protected in a social contract.
8. Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature?:
,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.
9. What is the purpose of a social contract?: Social contracts are created to
acknowledge and protect natural rights.
10. What is an important weakness of a social contract?: Social contracts re- quire
consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any society.
11. What do natural rights let you do?: Natural rights let you do what you need to survive
and be secure, and they impart an equality of all people.
12. What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for?: -
Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human nature and argued
for a proper society and government based on that nature.
13. What conditions are required for a social contract to work?: 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.
14. What does the theory of a social contract acknowledge?: The social contract
acknowledges that the people are in relationship with the government and there are
obligations the citizens have to a society.
15. What are social contracts constructed to be compatible with?: 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.
16. What natural right was explicitly protected in the Declaration of Indepen- dence?:
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.
17. Which Constitutional principle, suggested by Montesquieu, lessens the potential
harm of the national government over the people?: 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.
18. Which Constitutional mechanism, suggested by Montesquieu, balances the
national government and prevents any one section of government from having
sole/complete power?: 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.
19. Which of the following protects Locke's idea of natural rights and provides
Montesquieu's protections known as due process of law?: 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.
20. Which was designed with a concern for the tyranny of factional majori- ty?: The
Constitution. The potential for the tyranny of factional majority was a key consideration at
the time of the drafting of the Constitution.
21. What is the Enlightenment?: 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.
, 22. Why does the Enlightenment influence American politics and govern- ment?:
Those who settled the American colonies were seeking freedom and op- portunity, 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.
23. How do conflicting ideas of the Enlightenment influence government and politics?:
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.
24. What ideas are embodied in the Declaration of Independence?: The Decla- ration
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.
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