23
practice examMultiple Choice

Practice Exam

Question 23 • US History

Thomas Jefferson believed that the federal government was limited to the powers explicitly listed in the Constitution. Which best describes Alexander Hamilton’s view of this issue?

Answer
A
Hamilton believed that the Constitution was unrelated to the nation’s political structure.
B
Hamilton felt that the Constitution should be interpreted more strictly than Jefferson.
C
Hamilton favored a looser interpretation of the Constitution than Jefferson.
D
Hamilton strongly supported Jefferson’s interpretation of the Constitution.

Explanation

Hamilton supported a broad, or loose, interpretation of the Constitution. He believed the federal government could use powers that were not explicitly listed when they were necessary to carry out its constitutional responsibilities, such as creating a national bank. Jefferson favored a stricter interpretation, limiting the government to powers specifically stated in the Constitution, so C is correct.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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