President Andrew Jackson is said to have responded to the Supreme Court's ruling in Worcester v. Georgia with the words "[Chief Justice] John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" Which of the following best explains the meaning of this statement?

Question

The Supreme Court favored Georgia over the Cherokee people, so its decision was not valid.
The Supreme Court favored Georgia over the Cherokee people, so its decision was not valid.

The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.
The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.

According to the Constitution, the president has the power to deal with Native Americans, not the Supreme Court.
According to the Constitution, the president has the power to deal with Native Americans, not the Supreme Court.

The president is responsible for enforcing the law, including decisions made by the Supreme Court.

Answer 1

The statement "[Chief Justice] John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" reflects the idea that the Supreme Court, while having the authority to interpret the law, lacks the power to enforce its decisions. Therefore, the best explanation of the meaning of this statement is:

The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.

This implies that Jackson believed that it was up to him and the executive branch to enforce laws, and if he chose not to enforce the Court's ruling, the decision would effectively be rendered powerless.