Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review

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

Put the following in chronological order

• Madison refuses to deliver letters- Marbury sues for letter

• Jefferson wins election

• Adams appoints last minute judges before he leaves

• Writ of Mandamus unconstitutional- Judicial review established

• SC hears Case

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