Which of the following is a legal status some states give to same-sex couples that provide rights, responsibilities, and benefits similar to those of opposite-sex marriages?

Government programs tend to be difficult to cut back or eliminate in the United States because __________

a. the federal budget is renewed annually b. interest groups lobby to protect their benefits c. reduced government spending hurts the economy d. politicians are inherently conservative about change

The __________________ forbids the national government from interfering with practicing your religion.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).