Explanation
Correct answer: B.
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation within a sentence. The comma after “1804” pairs with the comma after “amendment” to separate the supplementary element “ratified in 1804” from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element functions to provide additional information on the term “12th amendment,” and the pair of commas indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because a dash can’t be paired with a comma in this way to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because a colon can’t be paired with a comma in this way to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.
Choice D
Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplemental element from the rest of the sentence.