Marbury v. Madison

Who was William Marbury?

• the Secretary of State under President Jefferson

• the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the early 1800s

• one of John Adams' "Midnight Judges" that he appointed at the very end of his term

Who was James Madison and why did Marbury bring a case against him?

• Secretary of State under Jefferson who was told not to deliver Marbury's commission as a new federal judge

• Vice President under Adams and Marbury was mad because he wanted to be Vice President

• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who announced that Marbury didn't have the right to receive his commission

The Supreme Court's decision in the Marbury case was that while Marbury did have the right to his commission, the Supreme Court felt that

• they had the obligation to enforce the Judiciary Act of 1789

• they had the right to decide that he wasn't the right person for the job

• they didn't have the right to issue the writ of mandamus to actually rule in his favor

Did Marbury ever receive his commission (did he get appointed to the judicial job Adams gave him)?

• Yes (yay for William!)

• No (aw man, poor guy)

The outcome of the case led the Supreme Court to declare that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was _______ (meaning it violates the Constitution and is therefore not permitted)

• undemocratic

• unconstitutional

• unjust

The Marbury v. Madison ruling marked the first time that

• the Supreme Court ever met to discuss a case

• the Supreme Court couldn't decide how to rule on a case

• the Supreme Court struck down an act of Congress for being unconstitutional

The Marbury v. Madison ruling is considered a landmark (important) case because it established the power of judicial review meaning that

• the Supreme Court can interpret the Constitution and decide what it means

• the Supreme Court can decide who gets federal commissions and who doesn't

• the Supreme Court can fire federal judges

The Marbury v. Madison case is significant because it cements the equal status of the Judicial Branch to the Executive Branch and Legislative

Branch by allowing it to limit the power of these branches. In this sense, judicial review is an example of what principle?

• individual rights

• checks and balances

• federalism

which court is highest

• Supreme Court

• Court of Appeals

• Distict Courts

Which of the following statements most accurately describes judicial review?

• the power to nominate and appoint new judges

• the power to reverse the decisions of lower courts

• the power to review presidential actions

• the power to declare laws unconstitutional