Question

Junk Food. Mary Dogood, a member of the school board in ABC County, is appalled at the amount of junk food in the schools. She convinces the state legislature to pass an ordinance that no stores may sell any unhealthy, junk food within 500 feet of any school or day care center. A teacher of political science raises the issue of whether the regulation is valid and is told that it is a valid exercise of the jurisdiction's police power to protect its citizens. Convenience stores balk at the regulation and challenge it in court. What concept is addressed in regard to the reference to "police power"?
a. The residual powers retained by each state to safeguard the health and welfare of its citizenry
b. The residual powers retained by the federal government to enforce valid laws and regulations
c. The power granted to local government to enter residencies without a search warrant
d. The power granted to state governments to tax for the purposes of having law enforcement
e. The powers granted to state government to imprison citizens of other states who commit crimes within a state

Answer 1

The residual powers retained by each state to safeguard the health and welfare of its citizens is the concept to address in regard to the reference to police power.

Option a

Explanation:

The state's main purpose is to safeguard and protect its citizens from any harm that may  be coming in  their way. It is there for the welfare of its citizens and for their own good. The state protects its citizens from harms that can come in many ways.  It can also impose civil laws and public policies, or police support to cope up with  any difficulties.

In the given example, Mary Dogood imposes a ban on junk foods within 500 feet from the school, for a good cause that would save the children from indulging themselves in unhygienic and unhealthy foods, that may harm them and make them fall ill. The police power exercised its role to impose this law correctfully to protect the citizens.