When Thomas Jefferson stepped into office he decreased the federal government’s power. He and his followers were called Jeffersonian Republican’s because of the way they thought the government should be run. Congress appealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, which would permanently placed Federalist in positions of 16 circuit courts. One of the Federalists who were chosen for one of these positions was William Marbury from Virginia. Marbury had not received his letter for this due to the fact that Jefferson had instructed James Madison, who was the secretary of the state, to not send his letter. In return, Marbury filed a suit to receive his letter.
In the Judiciary Act of 1789, the court was given the power to