Why is the court case Marbury v Madison significant? How did it elevate the power of the Supreme Court?
The court case Marbury v Madison, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1803, holds immense significance in American history as it established the judicial precedent of judicial review. This case elevated the power of the Supreme Court by granting them the authority to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
In the aftermath of the 1800 presidential election, President John Adams appointed several federalist judges known as the "midnight judges" to ensure a federalist influence in the judiciary branch before Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, assumed office. One of those appointments was William Marbury, who failed to receive his commission before the end of Adams' presidency. Jefferson's new Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury's commission.
Marbury then filed a writ of mandamus with the Supreme Court, requesting that the Court order Madison to deliver the commission. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, famously ruled that Marbury had a right to his commission but that the provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789, under which Marbury filed his case, was unconstitutional. The Court held that Congress cannot expand the powers of the Supreme Court beyond what the Constitution allows, thereby establishing the principle of judicial review.
This ruling in Marbury v Madison significantly elevated the power of the Supreme Court by granting them the authority to evaluate the constitutionality of laws, both federal and state. It established the Court as the final arbiter of the Constitution, giving them the power to strike down laws that are deemed unconstitutional. This power of judicial review allows the Court to act as a check on the other branches of government, ensuring that their actions align with the provisions and principles set forth in the Constitution.
Therefore, the case of Marbury v Madison is critically important as it solidified the Supreme Court's role as an equal branch of government and granted them the power to interpret the Constitution, shaping the path for future Court decisions and preserving the system of checks and balances within the United States government.