Answer:
B) the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a governmental agency saddled with the sole responsibility of regulating the securities or capital markets, as well as protecting investors in a country.
In the U.S, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an independent government agency was established under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States of America.
Hence, SEC has the power to propose securities rules and regulations, and enforce federal securities law in the securities market. Therefore, when a firm markets new securities, a preliminary registration statement must be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.