Question

A belief that the Constitution should be interpreted only according to the intent of its authors (and the intent of the state legislatures that ratified the amendments) is known as:

a) Judicial activism.
b) Judicial restraint.
c) Originalism.
d) Stare decisis.

Answer 1

Originalism is the belief that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of its authors. Originalists advocate for judicial restraint and oppose judicial activism, which allows for a more flexible, modern interpretation of the Constitution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of its authors is known as originalism. This judicial philosophy suggests that the meaning of the Constitution should be understood as it was at the time when it was written, using the document's text and other historical sources for guidance. Originalists tend to exhibit judicial restraint, avoiding actions that extend beyond the text of the Constitution and refraining from rewriting laws or creating new policies through judicial rulings. They aim to respect the sovereignty of the legislature, unless a law is clearly unconstitutional. On the opposite end, judicial activism describes judges who are willing to go beyond the text of the Constitution to address modern societal changes and may view the Constitution as a living document that evolves over time.