4. Which of the following best describes a central idea about the Constitution discussed in the text? A. The Constitution was written based on ideas and values outlined in the Bill of Rights. B. The Constitution sought to balance power between the central government and the state governments. C. The Constitution strengthened the central government's power by giving the most power to the president. D. The Constitution has been amended so many times that today it bears no resemblance to the original

## Step 1<br />The question is asking for the central idea about the Constitution as discussed in the text. The options provided are:<br />A. The Constitution was written based on ideas and values outlined in the Bill of Rights.<br />B. The Constitution sought to balance power between the central government and the state governments.<br />C. The Constitution strengthened the central government's power by giving the most power to the president.<br />D. The Constitution has been amended so many times that today it bears no resemblance to the original.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The correct answer is B. The Constitution sought to balance power between the central government and the state governments. This is because the Constitution was designed to create a system of government where power is divided between the central government and the state governments. This is known as federalism.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The other options are incorrect because:<br />A. The Constitution was not written based on ideas and values outlined in the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a series of amendments to the Constitution, not the other way around.<br />C. The Constitution did not strengthen the central government's power by giving the most power to the president. The president is part of the executive branch, which is one of the three branches of government, and the Constitution ensures a balance of power among the three branches.<br />D. The Constitution has not been amended so many times that it bears no resemblance to the original. While the Constitution has been amended several times, it still retains its original structure and principles.