Marbury v. Madison (1803) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, meaning American courts have the power to invalidate laws that violate the Constitution

. The case arose from a political dispute between outgoing President John Adams and incoming President Thomas Jefferson. Adams appointed several Federalist judges just before leaving office, but some commissions, including William Marbury’s, were not delivered before Jefferson took office. Jefferson instructed his Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver these commissions

. Marbury sued Madison, asking the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus to force delivery of his commission. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the unanimous opinion, addressing three questions:

• Did Marbury have a right to his commission? Yes, the commission was valid once signed and sealed, and withholding it violated Marbury’s legal right

• Was there a legal remedy for Marbury? Yes, generally where there is a legal right, there is a remedy, and a writ of mandamus was appropriate

• Could the Supreme Court issue the writ? No, because the Judiciary Act of 1789, which authorized the Court to issue such writs in original jurisdiction, conflicted with the Constitution’s Article III. The Court ruled that this part of the Act was unconstitutional, meaning the Court lacked jurisdiction to grant Marbury’s requested remedy

By declaring part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional, the Court asserted its authority to review and nullify Congressional acts that conflict with the Constitution. This established judicial review as a fundamental power of the Supreme Court, making it the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution and a co-equal branch of government

. In summary, Marbury v. Madison did not order Madison to deliver the commission but firmly established the Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional, shaping the future of American constitutional law and government checks and balances