Marbury V. Madison Decided In 1803

The U.S. Supreme Court established its power of judicial review over the other branches of the federal government in one of the most famous cases in our history. This case, Marbury v. Madison, was decided in 1803. The Constitution clearly limits the cases that can go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court without being first heard in a lower court. Marbury's case did not fit within these limits. Congress had changed the Constitution when it passed that part of the Judiciary Act. Congress by itself does not have the power to change the Constitution. So, the section of the Judiciary Act that increased the Court's power was ruled unconstitutional.

After the Federalist-dominated Congress adopted the Alien and Sedition Acts, Thomas Jefferson and James