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In Fletcher v. Peck, which Enduring Constitutional Issue did the Supreme Court address?

A) Separation of Powers and Capacity to Govern
B) Federalism
C) Presidential Powers in Wartime and in Foreign Affairs
D) Criminal Penalties

2 Answers

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Final answer:

In Fletcher v. Peck, the Supreme Court dealt with the issue of Separation of Powers and Capacity to Govern, focusing on a state's ability to rescind a land grant and the protections of the Constitution extending to private contracts.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Fletcher v. Peck, the Enduring Constitutional Issue that the Supreme Court addressed was Separation of Powers and Capacity to Govern. This decision in 1810 is notably one of the first instances where the Supreme Court asserted its role in overturning state law, thus emboldening judicial review at a national level. The case involved a land dispute following the Yazoo land fraud in Georgia, and the central constitutional issue was whether a state could rescind a land grant, which brings into question the contractual obligations under the Constitution.

The case underscored the balance of power between the state and federal governments, a theme deeply rooted in the foundations of federalism, a central constitutional design created during the inception of the United States. Federalism is the division of power between the national government and the states, with the Supreme Court often resolving tensions between these layers of government. Fletcher v. Peck contributed to the development of American jurisprudence by extending protections of the Constitution to private contracts and cementing the judiciary's role in mediating disputes that involve state legislative actions impacting individual rights and property.

User Sharareh
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4 votes

Final answer:

In Fletcher v. Peck, the Supreme Court dealt with an issue related to federalism, setting a precedent by ruling a state law unconstitutional and supporting federal supremacy.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Fletcher v. Peck, the Supreme Court addressed an Enduring Constitutional Issue related to federalism. The case dealt with the legality of revoking a land grant, which highlighted the conflict between the rights of individual states and the rights of the national government. This dispute encapsulated the tensions outlined in the Tenth Amendment and the discussions of national supremacy and states' rights that were part of the ratification debates between the Federalists and Antifederalists.

User Secador De Pelo
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