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Explain how and why the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Marbury v. Madison increased the Court's power
To understand how and why the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Marbury v. Madison increased the Court's power, we need to examine the background, details, and implications of this landmark case. Here's a step-by-step explanation to help you understand the answer:
1. Background: In 1800, President John Adams appointed William Marbury as a justice of the peace in the District of Columbia in the final days of his presidency. However, the Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury's commission.
2. Lawsuit: Marbury filed a lawsuit directly with the Supreme Court, seeking a writ of mandamus, a court order compelling Madison to deliver his commission. This case, Marbury v. Madison, reached the Supreme Court in 1803.
3. Chief Justice Marshall's Opinion: Chief Justice John Marshall, in writing the opinion of the Court, faced a critical decision. The Court needed to decide whether it had the authority to issue the requested writ under the Judiciary Act of 1789.
4. Establishment of Judicial Review: Marshall, instead of ruling on the specific case, declared Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional. This provision would have allowed the Court to issue the writ of mandamus. In doing so, Marshall established the principle of judicial review.
5. Judicial Review: Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to declare a law or executive action unconstitutional. In Marbury v. Madison, this power was used to declare the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional. This meant that the Court had the authority to review and interpret laws and determine if they aligned with the Constitution.
6. Increasing Court's Power: The ruling in Marbury v. Madison greatly enhanced the power of the Court for several reasons:
a. Authority to Interpret the Constitution: By establishing the power of judicial review, the Court gained the authority to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of laws and executive actions.
b. Check on Other Branches of Government: The ability to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional provided a significant check on the powers of the other branches of government, particularly the legislative and executive branches.
c. Preservation of Judicial Independence: With the power of judicial review, the Court became a more independent and equal co-equal branch of government, ensuring the protection of individual rights and fundamental liberties.
In summary, the Supreme Court's ruling in Marbury v. Madison increased the Court's power by establishing the principle of judicial review, providing the Court with the authority to interpret the Constitution and declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional. This decision significantly enhanced the Court's role as a check on the other branches of government and safeguarded judicial independence.
This decision allowed the court to declare a law unconstitutional.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_v._Madison