TExES Social Studies Content Practice Exam 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison established the principle of "judicial review," which allows the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws and acts of the legislative and executive branches. Decided in 1803, this case arose from a political dispute between the outgoing administration of President John Adams and the incoming administration of President Thomas Jefferson. Chief Justice John Marshall’s opinion in the case affirmed the judiciary's role as a check on the powers of the other branches of government.

Marshall declared that it is the duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, and if two laws conflict, the courts must decide on the operation of each. Thus, if a law is found to be in opposition to the Constitution, it must be nullified. This critical decision laid the foundation for the Supreme Court's power to engage in judicial review, which has been a fundamental aspect of American constitutional law ever since.