Marbury Vs Madison Essay

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Pages: 2

Marbury v. Madison, Epochal or Not? The Marbury v. Madison case—said to be one of the most important cases in the early years of American law making—involved William Marbury and James Madison, and brought into question the legal power of the Supreme Court. The case had many effects on our world, both immediate and long standing. The question posed is whether or not the case could be considered epochal. Was it truly an important case, or was it merely an instance of early American tension?
The Marbury v. Madison case occurred in the year 1803, while Thomas Jefferson was the United States President. The conflict first arose when James Madison, Thomas Jefferson’s Secretary of State, refused to deliver commissions to the current justices of peace. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson believed that the commissions should not be issued because the justices of peace were no longer
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The long term effects, however, were far more important. Chief Justice John Marshall established through this case judicial review, or the ability of the Supreme Court to declare a law, treaty, or statute unconstitutional. This not only gave the Supreme Court much more power, but it also separated the Executive and Judicial branches of government. This made the decisions and cases of the Supreme Court much different, as it was free from political control or sway. So was the Marbury v. Madison case epochal? Considering the nature, the cause, and the outcome of the case I believe it was significant and epochal. The long lasting effects of the case, and the power, change, and organization they brought to the Supreme Court and to the government as a whole shaped the way our nation regarded law. The effects of judicial review are still acting upon us in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison was indeed an epochal part of our nation’s