Question
Excerpt 1 from William H. Prescott’s History of the Conquest of Mexico, 1843
The legislative power, both in Mexico and Tezcuco, resided wholly with the monarch. This feature of despotism, however, was in some measure counteracted by the constitution of the judicial tribunals—of more importance, among a rude people, than the legislative, since it is easier to make good laws for such a community than to enforce them, and the best laws, badly administered, are but a mockery. Over each of the principal cities, with its dependent territories, was placed a supreme judge, appointed by the crown, with original and final jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases. There was no appeal from his sentence to any other tribunal, nor even to the king. He held his office during life; and any one who usurped his ensigns was punished with death.
Question
Use the excerpt from William H. Prescott’s History of the Conquest of Mexico to answer the question.
Which of the following had some power to limit the authority of the monarch in pre-Columbian Mexican civilization?
(1 point)
the judicial tribunal
the city legislature
the people
the despot
The legislative power, both in Mexico and Tezcuco, resided wholly with the monarch. This feature of despotism, however, was in some measure counteracted by the constitution of the judicial tribunals—of more importance, among a rude people, than the legislative, since it is easier to make good laws for such a community than to enforce them, and the best laws, badly administered, are but a mockery. Over each of the principal cities, with its dependent territories, was placed a supreme judge, appointed by the crown, with original and final jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases. There was no appeal from his sentence to any other tribunal, nor even to the king. He held his office during life; and any one who usurped his ensigns was punished with death.
Question
Use the excerpt from William H. Prescott’s History of the Conquest of Mexico to answer the question.
Which of the following had some power to limit the authority of the monarch in pre-Columbian Mexican civilization?
(1 point)
the judicial tribunal
the city legislature
the people
the despot
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is **the judicial tribunal**. According to the excerpt, the judicial tribunals had a significant role in the enforcement of laws and were overseen by a supreme judge, which indicates they had some power that could limit the absolute authority of the monarch.