Final answer:
The historical issue regarding the balance of power between states and the federal government began with debates over slavery during the Constitution's signing, led to the Civil War following South Carolina's secession, and continues to affect U.S. politics today as C) states' rights vs. federal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The issue that started with the signing of the Constitution, included the secession of South Carolina, and still comes up today is c) States rights vs. federal authority.
This long-standing debate centers on the distribution of power between the national government and state governments.
Disagreements over this issue were evident during the drafting of the Constitution concerning the question of slavery, where the southern slaveholding states sought to protect their slave-based economy by advocating for weaker central government control.
These tensions only escalated and culminated in the Civil War, starting with South Carolina's secession and the formation of the Confederate States of America.
Ultimately, the Union victory shifted the power balance toward the federal government, especially with the imposition of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments during the Reconstruction Era.
However, the debate over states' rights continues to shape American politics and governance even in contemporary times.