Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumStructure and Core Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution (1787):

'No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts...'

The restrictions placed on state governments in this clause most directly reflect which of the following core constitutional principles?

  1. Federalism, by establishing a division of power that restricted state sovereignty in favor of national authority.Answer
  2. B
    The preservation of state sovereignty, reflecting the decentralized governance structure of the Articles of Confederation.
  3. C
    The strict constructionist philosophy, which aimed to prevent the executive branch from exercising foreign policy powers.
  4. D
    Separation of powers, by maintaining the system where states held veto power over congressional legislation.

Answer

Federalism, by establishing a division of power that restricted state sovereignty in favor of national authority.
The correct option is the one identifying federalism. By explicitly prohibiting states from coining money, issuing bills of credit, or entering into foreign treaties, Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution established a division of power where the national government holds exclusive authority over matters of national interest, laying the foundation for modern federalism.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify what actions are being restricted.
The text restricts state governments from conducting foreign diplomacy (treaties), waging privateer warfare (letters of marque), and managing currency (coining money, emitting bills of credit).
Understanding the specific restrictions helps determine which level of government is losing power and which is gaining it.
2
Relate these restrictions to the core constitutional principles.
Limiting state power while granting exclusive authority over diplomacy and currency to the national government represents a division of power between levels of government.
This division is the definition of federalism, contrasting with the decentralized structure of the Articles of Confederation.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately names and describes this principle.
The concept is federalism, which establishes national supremacy in key areas while defining the boundaries of state power.
This directly matches the correct option describing federalism.

Key Concept

Federalism and the division of power between national and state governments.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Structure and Core Principles of the U.S. Constitution

More questions from this topic