Explain why in the court case Marbury v Madison significant how did it elevate the power of the Supreme Court
The court case Marbury v Madison is significant because it established the principle of judicial review, which elevated the power of the Supreme Court. In this case, William Marbury was appointed as a justice of the peace by then-president John Adams in the last days of his presidency. However, the commission for Marbury's appointment was not delivered, and the new president, Thomas Jefferson, instructed his secretary, James Madison, to withhold the commission.
Marbury then filed a lawsuit, seeking a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court, which would have forced Madison to deliver the commission. The court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, faced the dilemma of balancing the appointment of Marbury and respecting Jefferson's decision to withhold the commission. Marshall's decision was instrumental in establishing the power of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.
In the ruling, Marshall argued that the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which enabled Marbury to seek a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court, was unconstitutional because it expanded the court's original jurisdiction beyond what was outlined in the Constitution. By declaring this provision of the law invalid, Marshall established the power of the court to review the constitutionality of laws and executive actions.
This ruling elevated the power of the Supreme Court because it granted the court the authority to declare acts of Congress or actions by the executive branch as unconstitutional. Prior to this case, the power of judicial review was not clearly defined, and the Supreme Court had not exercised it in such a significant manner. The ruling in Marbury v Madison solidified the principle of judicial review, which remains a vital aspect of the court's power to this day.
By establishing the power of judicial review, the Supreme Court became the final arbiter of the Constitution, as it could strike down laws or executive actions that were deemed to be in violation of the Constitution. This elevated the court's power and made it a check on the other branches of government, ensuring that their actions remained within constitutional bounds. Consequently, Marbury v Madison marked a turning point in the authority of the Supreme Court and its role in the American system of government.