Read the selection from the section "Taxing tea, paying colonial governors."

Traditionally, the legislatures of the colonies held the authority to pay the governors, so a governor's salary could be withheld if the legislature became unhappy with any particular decision. The legislature could, in effect, force the governor into submission. Once this important leverage was removed, the governors could be more free to oppose the colonial legislatures.

Why does the author compare the governor's salary to "leverage"?


A.The salary was paid no matter what kinds of laws governors made.


B.The salary gave the colonists official authority over government taxes.


C.The salary was decided based on how hard governors worked.


D.The salary gave the colonists influence over what governors did.