Which document claims the federal judiciary will become dangerously independent?

• A. Brutus 3
• B. Federalist 15
• C. Federalist 39
• D. Article II of Constitution

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is the Anti-Federalist worry that the judiciary could become dangerously independent under the new Constitution. Brutus 3 expresses this fear most directly, arguing that lifetime tenure for judges and broad, unchecked judicial power would place the courts above the other branches and the people, allowing judges to shape policy and undermine legislative decisions. That concern—an unelected, unrestrained judiciary threatening liberty—is why this document is the best match.

The other selections don’t make that specific claim in the same way. Federalist 15 discusses the failures of the Articles and the need for a stronger central government, not the danger of an independent judiciary. Federalist 39 analyzes how power is divided between national and state governments, focusing on federalism rather than a warning about judicial independence. Article II of the Constitution outlines the executive branch and does not argue that the judiciary will become dangerously independent.