Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

The provided passage is from Thomas Paine's Common Sense: 'But as the same constitution which gives the Commons a power to check the King by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the King a power to check the Commons, by empowering him to reject their other bills; it again supposes that the King is wiser than those whom it has already supposed to be wiser than him. A mere absurdity!'

Based on this passage, which aspect of the U.S. Constitution might Paine reject?

Rationale

Equal executive branch.

Paine critiques the idea that the King holds equal power with the Commons, suggesting that this balance undermines the wisdom of the representatives of the people. He views the notion of an equal executive branch as an absurdity because it implies that the monarch is as wise as those elected to represent the public's interests.

A (existence of state sovereignty) YOUR ANSWER

Paine's passage does not address state sovereignty; rather, it focuses on the relationship between the monarchy and the Commons. The concept of state sovereignty relates to the autonomy of individual states within the union and is not part of his critique regarding the balance of power between the King and the legislature.

B (adherence to natural rights) YOUR ANSWER

While Paine is known for advocating natural rights, his criticism in this passage is directed at the structure of governance rather than the principle of natural rights itself. He does not argue against the notion of natural rights but rather points out the flaws in the checks and balances that diminish the Commons' authority.

C (strong national legislature) YOUR ANSWER

Paine does not reject the idea of a strong national legislature in this passage. Instead, he implies that the Commons should have greater power to check the King, indicating that he supports a robust legislative body that represents the people's will, rather than a diminished one.

Conclusion

In this excerpt, Paine expresses his disapproval of the notion that the King possesses equal authority to check the Commons, labeling it an absurdity. He emphasizes that such an arrangement undermines the wisdom of elected representatives, leading to his rejection of an equal executive branch. Through his critique, Paine advocates for a system where the legislature holds significant power, reflecting his belief in the need for a government that truly represents the people's interests.