Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 79%

This excerpt discussing the U.S. Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) is from an article published by the National Archives in 1995.
"A Law [opposed] to the Constitution is void. With these words written by Chief Justice Marshall, the Supreme Court for the first time declared unconstitutional a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. Nothing in the Constitution gave the Court this specific power. Marshall, however, believed that the Supreme Court should have a role equal to those of the other two branches of government. When James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a defense of the Constitution in The Federalist, they explained... "You must first enable government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."... The Constitution gave Congress the power to... remove officials, including judges or the President himself. The President was given the veto power to restrain Congress and the authority to appoint members of the Supreme Court.... [T]he role of the Supreme Court had not been defined. It therefore fell to a strong Chief Justice like Marshall to complete the triangular structure of checks and balances by establishing the principle of judicial review.

What basic assumption behind Marshall's remarks is not behind Reagan's remarks?

Rationale

The framers of the U.S. Constitution have received more credit than they deserve for the governmental protections Americans enjoy.

This statement reflects a skepticism towards the traditional view of the framers' contributions, suggesting that their role is overstated compared to other influences on American governance. In contrast, Reagan's remarks typically celebrate the framers' achievements without questioning their significance.

A (The framers of the U.S. Constitution have received more credit than they deserve for the governmental protections Americans enjoy.) CORRECT

This choice directly challenges the reverence often attributed to the framers, implying that their contributions may not be as pivotal as commonly believed. This assumption is absent from Reagan's remarks, which generally uphold the framers in high regard, emphasizing their role in shaping American democracy.

B (The framers of the U.S. Constitution have been credited with creating a document that protects all free people around the world.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement embodies a belief in the universal applicability of the Constitution's principles, aligning more closely with Reagan's perspective. He often highlighted the importance of American values in promoting freedom globally, reflecting admiration for the framers' vision rather than skepticism.

C (The U.S. Constitution created a government whose promises are yet to be realized by many around the world.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice acknowledges imperfections in the realization of the Constitution's promises, a sentiment that can be found in various critiques of American governance. However, Reagan's remarks typically focused on the strengths of the U.S. system rather than its shortcomings, distancing him from this assumption.

D (The U.S. Constitution created a government based on the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement emphasizes the continuity between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a notion supported by Reagan. He often referenced foundational documents as pivotal in defining American identity, reinforcing the idea that the framers were instrumental in establishing a just government.

Conclusion

The key distinction between Marshall's and Reagan's remarks lies in the perception of the framers' contributions to American governance. While Marshall expresses a critical view regarding their credit, Reagan's comments celebrate their achievements and the Constitution's global impact. This divergence highlights contrasting philosophical approaches towards the interpretation of American foundational principles.

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