American Government and Politics (POLS 122) Professor Jonathan Day

Outline for Today 1. President 2. Congress 3. Lower Courts 4. Questions about Concepts 5. Next Week

President The Supreme Court relies on the president to enforce its decisions.

President In the case of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1851), it involved the Cherokee being thrown off their land in Georgia after gold was discovered there. In another case, Wister v. Georgia, the Court decided that Georgia could not remove the Cherokee from their land. After the decision, President Andrew Jackson allegedly said, “John Marshall (the Chief Justice) has made his decision, now let him enforce it.” The president did not enforce the decision: the Cherokee were kicked off their land and the Trail of Tears was the result.

Congress Congress has the ability to rewrite the law if the court rules a law unconstitutional.

Lower Courts The Supreme Court relies on the lower courts to properly apply their decision to other decisions.

Questions about Concepts After reading Chapter 13, “The Courts”, pages 453 – 479 in American Politics Today What is mootness? What is collusion? What is ripeness? What is the Rule of Four?

Next Week Social, Economic, and Foreign Policy