our judges are as honest as other men, and not Morceau. They have, with others, the same passions, for party, for power, and the privilege of the corps [groups of people] …. And their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life, and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control.

Question

our judges are as honest as other men, and not Morceau. They have, with others, the same passions, for party, for power, and the privilege of the corps [groups of people] …. And their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life, and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control.

- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Charles Jarvis, Sept 18, 1820

this excerpt comes from a letter, Jefferson Road in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Marbury V. Madison. What was Jeffersons greatest concern?

a. He was concerned that the decision gave the Supreme Court too much authority.
b. Jefferson sell that judges were honest men, and should not be questioned.
c. Jefferson feels that Congress should advise the Supreme Court on all constitutional matters.
d. He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

The correct answer is d. He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected.

Answer 3

Based on the excerpt from the letter, Thomas Jefferson's greatest concern can be inferred as option d. He was concerned by the fact that judges were not elected. Jefferson expresses his concerns about the judges in the judiciary branch, stating that they have the same passions as other men, such as party and power. He points out that the judges in the Supreme Court hold their positions for life and are not accountable to the electorate, unlike other government officials who can be held responsible through the electoral process. Therefore, it can be concluded that Jefferson's concern was primarily focused on the fact that judges in the Supreme Court were not elected.