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That quote is a romanticized myth arising from the ruling in Worcester v. Georgia, 31 US 515 (1832), in which the Supreme Court, under the leadership of John Marshall, declared Native Americans had a right to federal protection against enforcement of unconstitutional state laws.

President Jackson never said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" In Paul Boller's book, They Never Said It: A Book of False Quotes, Misquotes, & False Attributions, historian Robert V. Remini explains Jackson wrote in a letter to John Coffee, "...the decision of the Supreme Court has fell still born, and they find that they cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate," meaning the Court's opinion was moot because it had no power to enforce its edict (not being a legislative body).

In fact, Georgia did obey the Supreme Court's only substantive ruling, which ordered the release from jail of missionaries who had lived on Native American land without buying a required state license. Since Georgia complied, there was nothing to enforce.

President Jackson and Congress opposed the Court's developing support of Native American rights, which they later demonstrated by seizing Native American land and displacing its inhabitants in the "Trail of Tears" tragedy.

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No, the quote is attributed to Andrew "Jackass" Jackson referencing the decision of Chief Justice John Marshall in the case of Worcester v Georgia, in which SCOTUS ruled that Georgia could not impose it's laws on native lands. Jackson ignored their ruling, and relying on an unlawful treaty with a small minority of unelected representatives of the Georgia Cherokee Nation engaged in one of the most heinous examples of "ethnic cleansing" in our nations history...the Trail of Tears.

The quote is also a popular historical myth. Jackson never made the comment.

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

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Q: Which US President said of a Supreme Court decision 'John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it'?
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Continue Learning about American Government

What is the outcome of a supreme court decision determined by?

The willingness of the government and the Exutive Branch to enforce that decision.


What is an unsanctioned method the Executive Branch sometimes uses to check the Judicial Branch?

The Judicial Branch of government can rule on any case under their jurisdiction; they cannot, however, enforce the ruling as that 'power' is reserved for the executive branch. So the executive can simply ignore the ruling. For example the US Supreme Court held that Georgia could not regulate or make laws that applied to Cherokee land, but President Jackson didn't enforce the Court's decision, so Georgia was able to ignore Chief Justice Marshall's decision with impunity.


What statement best completes the diagram of the ways the different branches of government can limit each bother's power?

can purpose amendments to the constitution to overturn a supreme court decision


The main role of the president and the vice president is to enforce the laws?

the job is not to enforce the laws but to make them.


Is the US President required to enforce a Supreme Court decision even if he disagrees with it?

In order to protect the checks and balances of the government the Supreme Court can find a piece of legislation unconstitutional, but their decision can not be overridden by the President. The only way that the decision of the Supreme Court can be overruled is by them reversing their decision or the constitution of the state being revised. The President has the power to appoint Justices to the Supreme Court - with confirmation by the Senate but once they are on the bench, their rulings are binding and the President cannot overrule them. The most that the President could do is persuade Congress to impeach a member of the Court (otherwise they serve until they either resign/retire or until they die). The President could also work with Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment to overturn a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Related questions

What did president Andrew Jackson say about marshals decision?

"John Marshall has made his decision;now let him enforce it."


How did Jackson react to the supreme cout's worcester v. Georgia decision?

Jacksons response: "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it."


How did President Jackson respond to the ruling worcester V Georgia?

Jacksons response: "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it."


What did the supreme court decide in the case and what was president jackson's response to the court ruling?

In the case of Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court ruled that Georgia's laws did not apply to the Cherokee Nation and that the removal of Native Americans from their lands was unconstitutional. President Andrew Jackson disagreed with the ruling and famously said, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it." Jackson refused to enforce the court's decision, leading to the forced removal of Native Americans along the Trail of Tears.


What is the outcome of a supreme court decision determined by?

The willingness of the government and the Exutive Branch to enforce that decision.


Why did treatment of Cherokee get worse after the Supreme Court declared Georgias Indians removal laws to be unconstitutional?

The federal government did not enforce the court's decision.


How does the Supreme Court gain compliance with the decisions it issues?

The US Supreme Court lacks the ability to enforce its own decisions, which is a check on the Judicial Branch of government. The Executive Branch is vested with the authority and obligation to enforce Supreme Court decisions, and the Legislative branch can support a decision by passing laws upholding the Court's finding.


What was president Jackson's response to the ruling in Worcester v Georgia?

Jackson supported Georgia's efforts to remove the Cherokee


What is an unsanctioned method the Executive Branch sometimes uses to check the Judicial Branch?

The Judicial Branch of government can rule on any case under their jurisdiction; they cannot, however, enforce the ruling as that 'power' is reserved for the executive branch. So the executive can simply ignore the ruling. For example the US Supreme Court held that Georgia could not regulate or make laws that applied to Cherokee land, but President Jackson didn't enforce the Court's decision, so Georgia was able to ignore Chief Justice Marshall's decision with impunity.


What was President Eisenhower referring to when he said the Supreme Court has spoken and I am sworn to uphold the constitutional processes in this country I will obey?

He likely was referring to the supreme court decision that required racial integration of public schools. He ordered the national guard to enforce integration at Little Rock high school.


What did Andrew Jackson mean when he said John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it?

Jackson didn't really make that statement, but wrote something similar in a letter to a friend. He meant Chief Justice Marshall's opinion didn't matter because the Supreme Court has no authority to enforce its decisions, and Jackson had no intention of intervening.More InformationAccording to popular myth, Jackson was supposed to have said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" In Paul Boller's book, They Never Said It: A Book of False Quotes, Misquotes, & False Attributions, historian Robert V. Remini claims Jackson never made such a statement. The tale is based on something Jackson wrote in a letter to John Coffee, "...the decision of the Supreme Court has fell still born, and they find that they cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate,"meaning the Court's opinion was moot because it had no power to enforce its edict (not being a legislative body).Case citation:Worcester v. Georgia, 31 US 515 (1832)


What branch of the US government is required by law to enforce Supreme Court decisions?

The Executive branch, headed by the President.