Identify one way in which the passage reflects on philosophical debate inthe late 18th or early 19th centuries.

According to a different source, the question refers to the following passage from the Letters from Abigail Adams to John Adams:

"How shall we be governed, so as to retain our liberties? Can any government be free, which is not administered by general stated laws? Who shall frame these laws? Who will give them force and energy? It is true, your resolutions, as a body, have hitherto had the force of laws; but will they continue to have?"

One way in which this passage reflects on the philosophical debate in the late 18th and early 19th centuries is by discussing the subject of political rights. In this passage, the speaker wonders what gives laws its power. She seems to think that the power of the laws comes from the power of people, who hold sovereignty and should be able to decide who can rule them and how their rights should be protected. This was a common idea during these centuries, and one that was strongly opposed to the dominant systems of government.

b) a state law could be declared illegal if it contradicted the constitution.

explanation:

the conflict of this case originated when james w. mcculloch, a cashier of the baltimore branch of the second bank of the united states that the congress had chartered in 1816, refused to pay a tax imposed by the maryland state.

in the case, the state of maryland appealed that the establishment of a second bank was unconstitutional since the constitution didn't say anything about granting that power to congress. however, the case determined that even if such right wasn't specifically stated in the constitution, it was part of the "implied powers" of the government enunciated in article i, section 8.

the case also eliminated maryland's legislation to impose taxes to a national bank, asserting that even though the states retained the power of taxation, the constitution's laws are supreme and can not be controlled by the states, therefore, if a state law contradicts the constitution, it should be declared illegal.

explanation:

john locke, hope this .