Marbury vs. Madison: What Was the Case About? | History

some scholars have called it the most important case in the history of the Supreme Court what started out as a minor matter about federal jobs turned into a legal decision that resonates to this day you want legal drama you got it this is the story of Marbury vs. Madison in 1802 mr. Singh defeated John Adams in the presidential election just before he left office Adams appointed a bunch of judges from his Federalist Party to the District of Columbia courts these appointments were approved by the Senate and signed by the president great but there was a

whole the last step before these judges could take office was a commission a formal piece of paper that said essentially this is their job and these guys are good to go these Commission's hadn't been delivered yet which meant the judges couldn't start their jobs yet and when President Jefferson took office in March of 1801 he said not so fast on those commissions he had a Secretary of State James Madison keep them for me and delivered one of those prospective judges was named William Marbury a federalist party member from Maryland Marbury said no fair I want

my judge job and he brought the case to the Supreme Court Marbury wanted the court to issue a writ of mandamus that's legalese for a court order Marbury wanted the court to order Madison to show why he couldn't get his commission in 1803 Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall himself a federalist appointed by John Adams ruled on the case of Marbury vs. Madison he saw this as an opportunity to establish some important legal precedents decisions that extended way beyond whether or not Marbury got his job first Marshall ruled that Marbury had the right to receive

his commission so that means I get my judge job right hey relax Marbury Marshall also ruled that Marbury had a right to Remy to have his wrong writing okay so I get my job yep that's it relax Marvin chill out buddy there was a third part to Marshalls decision and this is what made Marbury vs. Madison so important Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court didn't have the power to make Madison hand over Marbury's Commission so wait what in making his ruling justice Marshall had the court ruled itself Marshall brought up the Judiciary Act of 1789

this was a law that gave the Supreme Court the power to rule in cases just like this but Marshall ruled that section 13 of this law violated the Constitution because it gave the court powers the Constitution said it shouldn't have long story short it wasn't the Supreme Court's place to rule in a decision like this and striking down the Judiciary Act of 1789 Marshall also struck a blow against the authority of Congress the Constitution as Marshall put in was the supreme law of the land whenever Congress and the Constitution were in conflict the Supreme Court

would turn to the Constitution this is called judicial review and it's been an important function of the Supreme Court ever since in religion the power it was granted in 1789 the Supreme Court defined its emerging role for the young nation the court staked out its claim as a branch of government equal to and independent of Congress and the executive branch all that from a case about someone's paperwork not getting delivered young people in large numbers came out and joined what became known as the Red Guards these largely terroristic organizations were used to publicly humiliate assault

and in some cases even murder political enemies of Mao and the Communist Party