Question

sometimes it is not clear what powers a state government has. the passage below describes a conflict between a state government and the federal government over schools that were segregated, or divided, by race. read the passage. then complete the text below.

before 1954, many states segregated public schools based on race. in these states, african american students and white students were not allowed to go to the same schools. opponents and supporters of segregation disagreed about whether the state government or the national government had the power to decide whether schools should be segregated:

• opponents of segregation argued that the federal government needed to protect rights of american citizens that were denied by segregation.
• supporters of segregation argued that state governments had the power to decide whether their schools should be segregated.

in the case brown v. board of education (1954), the u.s. supreme court ruled that segregated schools violated the rights of american citizens under federal law. the court ordered states to stop segregating schools. when the state government of arkansas refused to obey the supreme court, the president of the united states sent soldiers to enforce the court’s decision.

complete the text.

based on the passage, ____________ makes the final decision about whether the constitution allows a state government to do something.

• the supreme court
• a resident of a state
• a state government
• the president

Explanation:

The passage states that in Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of segregated schools and ordered states to comply. When Arkansas refused, the president enforced the court's decision, showing the Supreme Court's role in constitutional interpretation for state actions.

Answer:

the Supreme Court