Definition: John Marshall and Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall increased the power of the federal government.

More importantly, he was known for judicial review. In Marbury v. Madison, Marshall struck down a federal law for the first time ever. The process whereby the Supreme Court determines if a law is constitutional is called judicial review. Marshall’s decision in the case declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 to be unconstitutional.     If you want more information:

You need to know other John Marshall decisions. All relevant court cases can be found together on the AP Gov Review Sheet.

Click here for next flash card       Back to eFlashcard headquarters