Which of the following statements best explains how the Fourteenth Amendment increases the power of the national government?
A. It allows the national government to prohibit discrimination based on gender in the states.
B. It allows the national government to ensure civil liberties and civil rights in the states.
C. It allows the national government to prohibit voting discrimination based on race in the states.
D. It allows the national government to practice fiscal federalism in relation to the states.
B. It allows the national government to ensure civil liberties and civil rights in the states.
The best answer that explains how the Fourteenth Amendment increases the power of the national government is option B: It allows the national government to ensure civil liberties and civil rights in the states.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, includes key provisions that grant the national government the power to protect individual rights and ensure equal protection under the law. It specifically prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws and guarantees due process of law to all individuals. These provisions have been interpreted to encompass civil liberties and civil rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as protection against discrimination based on race, gender, and other factors. This expansion of national government power enables it to intervene and enforce these rights against actions taken by state governments.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the purpose and provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, is an important constitutional amendment that addresses various civil rights and equal protection issues. It includes several provisions that expand the power of the national government.
A. The statement in option A is not accurate because the Fourteenth Amendment mainly focuses on race and equal protection, rather than gender discrimination. While gender discrimination falls under the purview of the equal protection clause, it was explicitly addressed through the Nineteenth Amendment, not the Fourteenth Amendment.
B. The statement in option B is more accurate. The Fourteenth Amendment grants the national government the power to ensure civil liberties and civil rights in the states. It includes the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits the states from denying any person within their jurisdiction equal protection of the laws. This clause enhances the power of the national government by allowing it to intervene when the states violate individuals' civil liberties and civil rights.
C. The statement in option C is also accurate. The Fourteenth Amendment allows the national government to prohibit voting discrimination based on race. The Amendment's provisions, such as the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause, have been interpreted by courts to address racial discrimination in voting and other aspects of state law.
D. The statement in option D is not an accurate explanation of how the Fourteenth Amendment increases the power of the national government. The concept of "fiscal federalism" primarily deals with the distribution of financial resources and responsibilities between the national and state governments. While the Fourteenth Amendment may have indirect implications for fiscal federalism, its main focus is on ensuring equal protection and civil rights.
In conclusion, the most accurate statement explaining how the Fourteenth Amendment increases the power of the national government is option B: It allows the national government to ensure civil liberties and civil rights in the states.