What does the author mean by the 'price' of the safeguards?
In a genuine emergency, governments reasonably claim extra powers: to detain suspects, to limit assembly, to requisition property. The difficulty is not that such powers exist but that they are rarely returned. History suggests that emergency measures are retained by default, because no minister wishes to be the one who relaxed the rules before the next attack. A safeguard is possible: legislate powers only for a fixed period, require a renewed vote to extend them, and provide for a review by someone outside government. These provisions have a price, for they make emergency action slower and more public. That price is worth paying. A power that expires unless defended is much less likely to be abused than one that lasts unless repealed.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Emergency action becomes slower and more exposed to public scrutiny
- Step 1: The passage says the safeguards 'make emergency action slower and more public'.
- Step 2: That is the stated price.
Answer
Emergency action becomes slower and more exposed to public scrutiny.
Why not the others: No compensation, pay for legislators, tax rises or money cost is mentioned.
Practise more Emergency powers.
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