Marbury V. Madison: A Landmark Case In The United States

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Marbury v Madison was a landmark case in the United State that originally decided the power of the Supreme Court. In the case, William Marbury was attempting to force James Madison to deliver his appointment papers, making Marbury a justice of the peace. The case was the first case where the Supreme Court ruled an act of congress to be unconstitutional. The case did not allow the Supreme Court to make its own law, but only decide which laws were constitutional. This case set the ground work for the power of the Supreme Court for future cases.

At the end of John Adams’ presidency, he appoint William Marbury as a justice of the peace. Thomas Jefferson ordered his secretary of state, James Madison, to not deliver the appointment orders for William Marbury. Marbury wanted the Supreme Court to force Madison to deliver the appointment orders under the Judiciary Act of 1789 (Marbury v Madison, 2012). The Supreme Court ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 to be unconstitutional. The court found that congress was unable to force the Supreme Court to silver the papers. It was the first case in United States history to find an act of congress to be unconstitutional.
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While the Constitution is somewhat vague on the power of the Supreme Court, the case gave a large amount of power to them. It gave them the power to reverse a bill passed by the legislative branch, and further signed into law by the executive branch. It empowers the Supreme Court in the checks and balances in the U.S. Government. It also gives the court the final say in legal matters throughout the country (ushistory.org,