Court Case1803
Marbury v. Madison Decided
The Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Marbury v. Madison, establishing the principle of judicial review. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Court had the authority to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional, fundamentally shaping the balance of power among the three branches of government.
Why It Matters
This decision established the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government with the power to interpret the Constitution, creating the essential check on legislative and executive power that defines American constitutional law.