The constitutional issue at the heart of United States v. Nixon is best described as: A. Whether the Supreme Court could hear the case.
B. The right of a president to resist impeachment.
C. The extent to which the separation of powers was allowed.
D. Whether laws had been broken during the Watergate incident.
The constitutional issue at the heart of United States v. Nixon is best described as:
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The correct answer is C. The extent to which the separation of powers was allowed.
In United States v. Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court addressed the balance of power among the branches of government, particularly concerning the executive privilege claimed by President Nixon. The ruling clarified that while the President has certain privileges, those do not extend to the point of obstructing justice and failing to comply with a subpoena. This case was pivotal in defining the limits of presidential power and the principle of separation of powers.