Explain - Why is the court case Marbury v Madison significant? How did it elevate the power of the Supreme Court? Need additional support: The court case of Marbury v. Madison was significant because This specific case established
elevated the power of the Supreme Court by
This
specific case established the principle of judicial review, which gave the Supreme Court the authority to declare acts of Congress as unconstitutional. Prior to Marbury v. Madison, the power of the judiciary to overturn laws passed by the legislative branch was unclear.
In 1801, President John Adams appointed William Marbury as a justice of peace in the District of Columbia. However, due to a delay in the delivery of Marbury's commission, the new Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, refused to deliver it. Marbury then petitioned the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus, which would direct Madison to deliver the commission.
In the court's unanimous decision, Chief Justice John Marshall declared that while Marbury did have a right to his commission, the Judiciary Act of 1789, which granted the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus, was unconstitutional. This ruling effectively nullified a section of the law and established the principle of judicial review.
By asserting the power of judicial review, the Supreme Court gained the authority to determine the constitutionality of laws. This elevated the Court to a co-equal branch of government, enabling it to check the power of the other branches. The decision in Marbury v. Madison solidified the Supreme Court's role as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution and gave it the power to strike down laws that it deemed unconstitutional.
Furthermore, the case also set a precedent for future challenges to the constitutionality of laws. It established that the Supreme Court had the final say on matters of constitutional interpretation and opened the door for the Court to assert its authority in subsequent cases.
Overall, Marbury v. Madison was significant because it established the principle of judicial review and elevated the power of the Supreme Court by granting it the authority to declare acts of Congress as unconstitutional, solidifying its role as the final interpreter of the Constitution.