Use the excerpt to answer the question. "The subject to be regulated is commerce, and . . . it becomes necessary to settle the meaning of the word. The counsel for the appellee [party appealing to a higher court] would limit it to traffic, to buying and selling, or the interchange of commodities, and do not admit that it comprehends [includes] navigation. . . . All America understands, and has uniformly understood, the word "commerce" to comprehend navigation. It was so understood, and must have been so understood, when the Constitution was framed. . . . The word ‘among’ means intermingled with. A thing which is among others is intermingled with them. Commerce among the States cannot stop at the external boundary line of each State, but may be introduced into the interior.” —Chief Justice John Marshall, opinion of the court, Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Question Which of the following best summarizes this excerpt from John Marshall’s opinion? (1 point) Responses The definition of commerce is differently interpreted by each state. The definition of commerce is differently interpreted by each state. The most important area involving commerce is in securing the national economy. The most important area involving commerce is in securing the national economy. The buying and selling of goods across state borders ought to fall under stricter laws. The buying and selling of goods across state borders ought to fall under stricter laws. The transportation and navigation of goods is part of the constitutional definition of commerce. The transportation and navigation of goods is part of the constitutional definition of commerce.

Question

Use the excerpt to answer the question. "The subject to be regulated is commerce, and . . . it becomes necessary to settle the meaning of the word. The counsel for the appellee [party appealing to a higher court] would limit it to traffic, to buying and selling, or the interchange of commodities, and do not admit that it comprehends [includes] navigation. . . . All America understands, and has uniformly understood, the word "commerce" to comprehend navigation. It was so understood, and must have been so understood, when the Constitution was framed. . . . The word ‘among’ means intermingled with. A thing which is among others is intermingled with them. Commerce among the States cannot stop at the external boundary line of each State, but may be introduced into the interior.” —Chief Justice John Marshall, opinion of the court, Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Question Which of the following best summarizes this excerpt from John Marshall’s opinion? (1 point) Responses The definition of commerce is differently interpreted by each state. The definition of commerce is differently interpreted by each state. The most important area involving commerce is in securing the national economy. The most important area involving commerce is in securing the national economy. The buying and selling of goods across state borders ought to fall under stricter laws. The buying and selling of goods across state borders ought to fall under stricter laws. The transportation and navigation of goods is part of the constitutional definition of commerce. The transportation and navigation of goods is part of the constitutional definition of commerce.

Answer 1

The excerpt from John Marshall's opinion in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) can be best summarized by the statement:

The transportation and navigation of goods is part of the constitutional definition of commerce.

This is because in the excerpt, Chief Justice John Marshall clarifies that the term "commerce" as used in the Constitution includes more than just the act of buying and selling; it also encompasses navigation. He refutes the narrower interpretation that "commerce" only means traffic and the interchange of commodities. He argues that the word "among" signifies that commerce intermingles and thus must be considered to extend beyond the external boundaries of each state into the interior. Therefore, 'transportation and navigation' are indeed part of what the Constitution refers to as commerce.