Question

read the following paragraph from a book review:
in his book engines of liberty: the power of citizen activists to make constitutional law, david cole claims that ordinary citizens, not judges, are the real force behind changing interpretations of what is and isnt constitutional. i believe this viewpoint is naive and misleading. although public opinion does influence legal decisions, meaningful change only occurs in the courtroom. for example, a majority of americans favored legalizing same - sex marriage for many years. but the supreme court did not rule it was constitutional because it was popular. it made it constitutional only because numerous states had passed laws and fought lower court battles over the practice.
the topic of this paragraph is \i believe this viewpoint is naive and misleading.\ what part of the passage provides evidentiary support?
○ although public opinion does influence legal decisions, meaningful change only occurs in the courtroom.
in his book engines of liberty: the power of citizen activists to make constitutional law, david cole claims that ordinary citizens, not judges, are the real force behind changing interpretations of what is and isnt constitutional.
○ for example, a majority of americans favored legalizing same - sex marriage for many years.
○ but the supreme court did not rule it was constitutional because it was popular. it made it constitutional only because numerous states had passed laws and fought lower court battles over the practice.

Explanation:

Evidentiary support provides proof or an example. Option D gives a specific example (same - sex marriage) where the Supreme Court's decision was based on court - related actions (state laws and lower - court battles) rather than public opinion (popularity), which supports the claim that "meaningful change only occurs in the courtroom" and that the view about ordinary citizens being the real force is "naïve and misleading".
Option A is a general statement, not evidence. Option B is the opposing view. Option C is just a statement about public opinion (favoring same - sex marriage) without showing the court's role in making it constitutional.

Answer:

D. But the Supreme Court did not rule it was constitutional because it was popular. It made it constitutional only because numerous states had passed laws and fought lower court battles over the practice.