The Supreme Court ruled ___________ that 'executive privilege' is only extended when connected to national security.

• A. Bush v. Gore
• B. United States v. Nixon
• C. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
• D. Tinker v. Des Moines

Answer: (B)

Executive privilege is the idea that the president can withhold certain information from the other branches to protect the presidency and national security, but it isn’t a blanket shield that never yields. United States v. Nixon is the case that clarifies this by saying the privilege is limited and not absolute in the face of a criminal investigation. In the Watergate situation, the Supreme Court ruled that while presidential communications can be protected, the need for evidence in public legal proceedings can override that privilege, so the president had to turn over the tapes and related materials. The other options involve different legal issues—Bush v. Gore deals with resolving an election dispute, Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier concerns school censorship, and Tinker v. Des Moines concerns student free speech—so they don’t address the scope of executive privilege. That’s why United States v. Nixon is the best answer.