Florida Civic Literacy Practice Exam

Which court case reinforced the power of the courts and established judicial review?

1. Brown v. Board of Education

2. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

3. Roe v. Wade

4. Gideon v. Wainwright

The correct answer is: Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The case that reinforced the power of the courts and established the principle of judicial review is Marbury v. Madison, decided in 1803. This landmark decision, delivered by Chief Justice John Marshall, established that it is the duty of the judiciary to interpret the law and safeguard the Constitution. The ruling asserted that the Supreme Court has the authority to review acts of Congress and determine whether they are constitutional, effectively allowing the court to invalidate laws that it finds to be in conflict with the Constitution. This principle of judicial review has since been a cornerstone of American constitutional law, ensuring that the judiciary acts as a check on the powers of the legislative and executive branches. The other cases listed, while significant in their own right, pertain to other issues such as civil rights, abortion rights, and the right to counsel, but they do not specifically address judicial review or the foundational powers of the judiciary in the same manner as Marbury v. Madison.