Final answer:
The Supreme Court considered the constitutionality and scope of executive privilege in the landmark case of United States v. Nixon in 1974.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the landmark case of United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court expressly considered the constitutionality and scope of executive privilege in the year 1974.
Executive privilege is a power that allows the president to withhold certain information from the public, Congress, and the courts in matters of national security. This power, although not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, has been recognized since George Washington's presidency.
In the United States v. Nixon case, Richard Nixon claimed executive privilege to avoid handing over tapes recorded in the Oval Office. The Supreme Court ruled that executive privilege is not absolute, and the president must yield to other constitutional duties, such as the right to a fair trial or the need for evidence in a criminal investigation.