Question

This forced removal, known as the "Trail of Tears", showed the power of the Supreme Court is merely the power to _____________ , unless the ______________ branch enforces the Court's decisions.

Answer 1

The Trail of Tears exemplifies that the power of the Supreme Court rests in interpreting laws, which require the executive branch's enforcement to have a practical effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The forced removal known as the "Trail of Tears" demonstrates that the Supreme Court has merely the power to interpret the law, unless the executive branch enforces the Court's decisions. This was evident during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson following the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the subsequent Worcester v. Georgia case. The Supreme Court ruled that the State of Georgia's seizing of Native American lands was unconstitutional, but Jackson's administration did not enforce this ruling. As a result, thousands of Cherokee and other members of the Five Civilized Tribes were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma, resulting in significant loss of life.