17. If the court dismisses the action, what will be the most likely reason?

A is correct. The action likely satisfies the political question doctrine and therefore should be dismissed as nonjusticiable. The President's Article II power to receive foreign ambassadors is likely a textually demonstrable commitment by the Constitution of exclusive authority to recognize foreign governments. Moreover, Article II provides no judicially manageable standards by which a court could review the constitutionality of a President's decision on whether to recognize a foreign government. Finally, because the action involves the President's administration of foreign affairs, the prudential elements of the political question doctrine also indicate that the court should dismiss the action as nonjusticiable.

B is incorrect. The action is ripe for adjudication even though the ambassador may remain in the United States for 10 days. The ambassador has suffered immediate harm because she no longer represents the foreign country in the United States, she has lost her diplomatic immunity, and she is facing expulsion within a very short period of time. Also, the constitutional issues are fit for review without waiting for the ambassador's expulsion.

C is incorrect. Although Article III of the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over actions involving ambassadors, federal district courts also may exercise original jurisdiction over actions within the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.

D is incorrect. The ambassador has standing, because she has been injured by the President's decision that her faction is no longer the government of her country, her injury is fairly traceable to this decision, and the injury is likely redressable by a court order invalidating the decision.