๐ What is Marbury v. Madison?
Marbury v. Madison is a landmark Supreme Court case from 1803 that established the principle of judicial review in the United States. Judicial review is the power of the federal courts, particularly the Supreme Court, to review laws and government actions and determine whether they are constitutional. If a law or action is deemed unconstitutional, it is invalid.
๐ History and Background
The case arose from a political battle between outgoing President John Adams and incoming President Thomas Jefferson. In the final days of his presidency, Adams appointed a number of Federalist judges, including William Marbury, as a Justice of the Peace for the District of Columbia. These appointments were intended to ensure continued Federalist influence in the government. However, the commissions for these appointments were not delivered before Jefferson took office. Jefferson's Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury's commission.
Marbury then petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus, a court order compelling Madison to deliver the commission. He argued that the Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in such cases.
โ๏ธ Key Principles Established
- ๐ The Constitution is Paramount: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any law that conflicts with it is invalid.
- ๐ Judicial Review: The Supreme Court has the power to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of laws.
- ๐๏ธ The Judiciary Act of 1789: The Court found that the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that granted it original jurisdiction in cases like Marbury's was unconstitutional because it expanded the Court's original jurisdiction beyond what was permitted by Article III of the Constitution.
๐ Real-world Examples of Judicial Review
- ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): The Supreme Court ruled that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
- ๐ซ Brown v. Board of Education (1954): The Supreme Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, overturning the โseparate but equalโ doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).
- ๐ฃ๏ธ Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010): The Supreme Court held that corporations and unions have the same First Amendment rights as individuals, and that the government cannot restrict their independent political spending in candidate elections.
๐ก Conclusion
Marbury v. Madison is a cornerstone of American constitutional law. It firmly established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to check the actions of the other branches of government and ensuring that the Constitution remains the supreme law of the land. This power continues to shape American law and politics today.