Marbury VS. Madison

Question 1

What happened in the Marbury vs. Madison case?

Answer 1

The high court established the principle of Judicial review

• William Marbury was names justice of the peace for the District of Columbia
• President Adams signed his and other commissions late night March 3rd 1801.
• Adams tried to pack the courts with federalists before his presidency ended
• Jefferson became president the following day, finding that the commissions had not been delivered
• Jefferson, angered by the Federalist court packing scheme, appointed new secretary of state James Madison, not to deliver the documents to the “midnight justices”
• Marbury then went to the supreme court, seeking a mandamus
• After sitting on the case for 2 years, the court rejected Marbury’s plea
• said that the Judiciary Act Marbury depended on was invalid, because of a conflict with a constitutional provision
• With this ruling, the court established its power to determine the constitutionality of governmental actions
• Had upheld President Jeffersons refusal to deliver Marbury’s commission.
• The supreme court had acquired the power of judicial review

Question 2

Whats the significance of this case?

Answer 2

• gave the court the ultimate power

- creates judicial review