This excerpt comes from a letter Jefferson wrote in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Marbury v. Madison. What was Jefferson’s greatest concern?

Question

This excerpt comes from a letter Jefferson wrote in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Marbury v. Madison. What was Jefferson’s greatest concern?

(1 point)
Responses

Jefferson feels that Congress should advise the supreme court on all constitutional matters.
Jefferson feels that Congress should advise the supreme court on all constitutional matters.

He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.
He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.

He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.
He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.

Jefferson felt that judges were honest men and should not be questioned

Answer 1

He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.

Answer 2

(1 point) The correct answer is:

He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.

Answer 3

Jefferson's greatest concern, as expressed in the letter, was that the decision in Marbury v. Madison gave the Supreme Court too much authority. To understand this, you can analyze the text of the letter. In his response to the Court's decision, Jefferson voices his disagreement with the Court's interpretation of the Constitution. He argues that if the Court has the final say on the meaning of the Constitution, then the Court effectively becomes the ultimate authority in determining the extent of the federal government's powers. Jefferson believed that this concentration of power in the hands of the Court could potentially undermine the principles of a balanced and limited government that were important to him. Therefore, his concern was primarily about the expanded authority of the Supreme Court resulting from the decision in Marbury v. Madison.