Which Constitutional case addressed state-tribal relations and limited Georgia's authority over the Cherokee Nation?

• A. Dred Scott v. Sandford.
• B. Marbury v. Madison.
• C. Worcester v. Georgia.
• D. Plessy v. Ferguson.

Answer: (C)

This question tests understanding of how tribal sovereignty interacts with state authority and federal role in Indian affairs. Worcester v. Georgia held that the Cherokee Nation is a distinct political community within the United States, and Georgia cannot enforce its laws within Cherokee territory. The ruling emphasized that federal authority, not the state, governs relations with tribes, effectively limiting Georgia’s power to regulate or control Cherokee lands and people. This case established a precedent that state laws do not apply on tribal lands, reinforcing tribal sovereignty and the federal government’s responsibility as guardian of tribes.

Dred Scott v. Sandford dealt with slavery and citizenship, Marbury v. Madison established judicial review, and Plessy v. Ferguson dealt with racial segregation. None of these address state-tribal relations or Georgia’s authority over the Cherokee Nation, so they do not fit the scenario described.