Which belief is associated with the states' rights argument?

• A. The monarchy should govern territories.
• B. The federal government should hold more power than states.
• C. The federal government should ban all trade with Europe.
• D. States should have more power than the federal government.

Answer: (D)

This question is about how power is shared between national and state governments. The states’ rights view argues that states should have more authority than the federal government, reserving powers to themselves rather than letting the national government dominate policy across the whole country. This perspective emphasizes keeping decisions closer to the people and limiting federal reach through ideas like reserved powers and federalism.

That’s why the statement that states should have more power than the federal government fits best. It contrasts with the other ideas: monarchy would replace republic governance with a king, which isn’t about state–federal balance; the opposite of states’ rights is a stronger federal government, which the correct view rejects; and banning trade with Europe is a foreign policy issue, not a question about the division of powers between state and national levels.