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

(1 point)
Responses

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.

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 best explanation of President Andrew Jackson's statement is:

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

This reflects the idea that while the Supreme Court can declare laws or actions unconstitutional, it lacks the authority to enforce its own rulings, relying on the executive branch to do so. Jackson's response indicates his unwillingness to enforce the Court's decision in favor of the Cherokee, thus showing his disregard for the ruling.