James Bryce believed that the Constitution was a fine example of:


A. mass democracy at work.


B. development of an oligarchical system of government.


C. an incrementally improved system not far removed from the Magna Carta.


D. a governing system that encouraged the proliferation of political parties

not sure if its a or d, D?

A.

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1809794

Got it, Thanx!

You're welcome.

To figure out the answer, let's first understand who James Bryce was and then analyze the options.

James Bryce was a British historian, diplomat, and political theorist. He is best known for his book "The American Commonwealth," published in 1888, which analyzed the political system and institutions of the United States. In this book, Bryce discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the American Constitution.

Now let's review the options:

A. mass democracy at work: This option suggests that James Bryce believed the Constitution exemplified a system of government where mass democracy was prevalent. While the Constitution does contain democratic elements, it also includes checks and balances that limit the power of the majority. Therefore, this option does not accurately represent Bryce's view.

B. development of an oligarchical system of government: This option suggests that Bryce believed the Constitution led to the development of an oligarchy, a government run by a few individuals. However, Bryce did not have a negative view of the Constitution's impact on the system of government, so this option is unlikely.

C. an incrementally improved system not far removed from the Magna Carta: This option implies that Bryce saw the Constitution as a system that had been gradually improved over time, although it maintained some similarities to the Magna Carta. While this option is plausible, it does not fully capture Bryce's view.

D. a governing system that encouraged the proliferation of political parties: This option suggests that Bryce believed the Constitution fostered the growth and expansion of political parties. Since Bryce saw political parties as crucial to a democracy, this option aligns with his perspective.

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is D. James Bryce believed that the Constitution was a governing system that encouraged the proliferation of political parties.