Marbury vs Madison is the landmark case of 1803 where the Supreme Court of the United States established its authority to review government actions that conflict with the Constitution of the United States. In Marbury, Chief Justice John Marshall expressed for the first time the judicial review at the federal level. Although the Court’s decision concerned only a minor crime of a federal law, the case is very important because it was the first time …showed first 75 words of 547 total…

…showed last 75 words of 547 total…not ordered to deliver the commission to Marbury. Marshall was able to declare a law of Congress unconstitutional, and he did it in a way that required no action on the part of the executive branch. Thus, Jefferson, who opposed judicial review, could not stop Marshall's opinion from having a legal effect. Most importantly, the opinion established the right, the power, and the commitment of the courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.