Question

questions 1 through 3 refer to the following.
\louisiana as ceded by france is made part of the united states. congress may make part of the
united states other adjacent territories which shall be justly acquired.
congress may sever from the united states territory not heretofore within the united states, with
consent of a majority of the free males above 21 years, inhabiting such territory.
james madison, secretary of state, proposed constitutional amendment not passed, 1803
3 mark for review
which of the following groups would mostly likely have supported this proposed amendment?
a proponents of the supremacy of federal laws over state laws
b proponents of the expansion of the executive branch powers under the
constitution
c advocates of the power of the supreme court to review federal laws
d advocates of limiting federal powers to those specifically written into
the constitution

Explanation:

The proposed amendment in question pertains to the process of admitting new territories (like Louisiana) into the United States. Proponents of limiting federal powers to those specifically written in the Constitution (advocates of strict - constructionist views) would likely support this amendment. This is because they believe in a narrow interpretation of federal authority. If a new territory's admission (and the associated rules like the consent of a majority of free males) is not explicitly in the Constitution, they would want an amendment (a formal constitutional change) to authorize it.

• Option A: Proponents of federal law supremacy over state laws (like Federalists in an earlier era) would be more concerned with national power over states, not the process of territorial admission tied strictly to the Constitution.
• Option C: Advocates of Supreme Court review of federal laws focus on judicial power, not the constitutional amendment process for territorial governance.
• Option D: While the Constitution is the basis, the key here is the group that advocates limiting federal powers to constitutional text (strict construction), which is more accurately described by the concept related to the Constitution's strict interpretation for new powers (like territorial admission rules).

Answer:

D. Advocates of limiting federal powers to those specifically written into the Constitution.