Ace the 2026 Michigan Teacher Certification in Social Studies – Elevate Your Teaching Dreams!

The principle of judicial review was established in the case of Marbury vs. Madison. This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1803, affirmed the power of the judiciary to review acts of Congress and determine whether they are unconstitutional. This was a pivotal moment in American legal history, as it established the judiciary as an equal branch of government that has the authority to interpret the Constitution.

The case arose when William Marbury petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to compel Secretary of State James Madison to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace. In its decision, the Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that while Marbury was entitled to his commission, the specific provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that allowed Marbury to bring his claim to the Supreme Court was itself unconstitutional. This ruling set the precedent for judicial review, enabling the Supreme Court and lower courts to invalidate laws and executive actions that are found to be in conflict with the Constitution.

In contrast to this, the other cases mentioned, such as McCulloch vs. Maryland, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Gideon vs. Wainwright, addressed significant issues within the legal framework of the U.S. but did