The Judiciary Act Of 1789

Improved Essays
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the Supreme Court, and with it, the notable power to deem federal laws unconstitutional. This Act was brought to light again in 1803, in the case of Marbury v. Madison. Judges were appointed by Federalist John Adams in his last moments of presidency, but Democrat-Republican Thomas Jefferson disagreed with them. Though the “midnight judges” had been confirmed by the Senate -- with prepared commissions -- President Jefferson ordered Secretary of State James Madison to not deliver the commissions. These “midnight judges” followed by sueing Madison in the Supreme Court, citing his position as the Secretary of State in arguing that he was neglecting his Constitutional duty by failing to deliver their commissions.

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Gibbons Vs Ogden Essay

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In 1803 William Marbury sued John Madison for being denied the role of Justice of Peace and claimed that the executive branch was forcing actions on the other branches. Before Thomas Jefferson was elected into his role of Presidency, William Marbury had been appointed to be a Justice of Peace by John Adams, but the appointment process had not fully been completed. By that time Jefferson had been in his role of Presidency and Adam's role was terminated. Thomas Jefferson had then denied Marbury access to his role appointed by the previous President, even though William had been expecting a role. William Marbury brought the case to the Supreme Court, stating that not one branch of the government was allowed to force an action upon another branch.…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States’ population had multiplied for many years; and as more people migrated to the U.S., the power that was derived from the citizens influenced the inflation of the government. Marbury v. Madison first paved the way to allow the judicial branch to have a true influence on this government. The events that lead to the hearing and how the case preceded directly affected how the verdict would influence the judicial branch’s powers. Once Thomas Jefferson,…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mcculloch V. Maryland

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Madison, the Marshall Court settled that the idea judicial review is the only the judicial branch that can review whether laws and actions were approved. The Marshall Court declared the power of the Supreme Court that has the capacity to understand the Constitution and could use it to determine the legality of the other two branches actions. The Marshall Court modified how the Supreme Court was seen. In doing so the Marshall Court had an intense result on the American government.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The case of Marbury v Madison all began when President Adams in his last days as president. President Adams was in a frantic rush to send out appointments for justices of peace. He wanted to have as many federalist ally’s as possible so his opponent Jefferson would not be able to change the old ways. (Hess 62) In doing so he was down to the wire on his last day as president, his appointments were approved by the senate and just had to be delivered.…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since his secretary would have to appoint to the Justice of Peace, Jefferson told him not to appoint him. The Justice of Peace (Marbury) sued the Secretary of State (Madison). This eventually lead to a law being called unconstitutional, and written off. This was the first time that the supreme court ever did anything of…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first and the far most important Supreme court decision was Marbury v. Madison of 1803. Marbury v. Madison was written by the chief justice John Marshall and was the first supreme court case to put in application the concept of Judicial review. It began with the election of 1800; Federalist Party of John Adams viruses the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson. Upon the defeat of John Adams, on the last days in office, Adams appointed a large number of Justices of peace for Washington D.C and was approved by the Senate and signed by the president with the authorized seal of the government. The reason behind Adams actions what that even though he had lost his power as president, he would have a lot of judges that could carry on his legacy.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dred Scott Vs Sanford Case

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Judiciary Act, signed by President George Washington, stated, in the constitution,…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies needed a government to replace the British system they overthrew. The Founding Fathers drafted the Articles of Confederation. The articles were briefly used until citizens began to see its shortcomings. It was just a “firm league of friendship. ”…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Madison Supreme Court case, Chief Justice John Marshall’s majority decision revolutionized the interpretation of Section 1 according, Section 2 of Article 3 in the US Constitution. Marshall first stated in his speech that “it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” This reveals that Marshall believes the Supreme Court’s duty or job is to determine what the law is. He then says that “if two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each… if a law be in opposition to the Constitution...…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Marbury Vs Madison

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court purview,…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Eleventh Amendment

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Judiciary Can’t Have Too Much Power The Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution, changed a portion of Article III, Section II of the U.S. Constitution. Even before ratification of the Constitution anti-federalists worried that Article III, Section II would interfere with the sovereignty of the individual states. The original Article stated that: the judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority; to cases between a State and Citizens of another State and between a State or the Citizens of it and foreign States. The anti-federalist believed this would allow the federal government to override the States right to not be subject to a suit without the States consent.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1800, Adams was defeated for reelection by Thomas Jefferson. One of his last actions as president was the Midnight Judges. Adams tried filling the courts with all Federalist judges, all of his appointments were voided except for Chief Justice, John Marshall (O’Brien). Before Jefferson 's inauguration, the Judiciary Act was passed that recognize the federal court system (Israel 38). The Judiciary Act gave the Supreme Court the power to review cases brought against a federal official.…

    • 1344 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Judicial Dbq Analysis

    • 807 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Although a majority of documents convey the impression, to be against the Supreme Court having the power to question the constitutionality of federal laws; but the amount of documents that agree, have more solid evidence in their argument. The Supreme Court should have the power to overturn unconstitutional federal laws. Federalist No. 78, the Marbury v. Madison decision, Article III of the Constitution and the Judiciary Act of 1789 are prime examples to prove that the judicial branch has the authority to do so. First of all, in Federalist No. 78, written by Alexander Hamilton in 1788; declares that, “[The] courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature...”(Doc D).…

    • 807 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    J. Cecelia Shaulis April 13, 2015 Pols-Y 211 Dalecki Exam 3- Miranda v. Arizona One of the biggest players in law interpretation and policy-making is the judiciary system. While the other two branches of government have some control over the judiciary system through checks and balances, the federal courts have a great deal of power in the form of judicial review. Judicial review is the authority of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution.…

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the United States government 's history, one thing remains the same, the three branches of government are as important as each other in keeping the nation thriving. Each with their unique set of strengths and weaknesses, the Judicial Branch is one that comes to mind when thinking of having the most powerful strength, proving a system of checks and balances to the other government branches. The Judicial Branch is responsible for reviewing the constitutionality of the actions of the government, according to Fine & Levin-Waldman (2016). What this means is, when something is signed into law or actions are taken, the Supreme Court of the United States decides if it follows the rights and laws outlined in the US Constitution. According to…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays