This case established judicial review.

• A. Marbury v Madison
• B. McCulloch v Maryland
• C. Brown v Board of Education
• D. Ex Parte Merryman

Answer: (A)

Judicial review is the power of the courts to interpret the Constitution and strike down laws or government actions that conflict with it. In Marbury v Madison, decided in 1803, the Supreme Court established this power as a central check on both the legislative and executive branches. The case arose from a dispute over commissions for judges, but the Court used it to declare that a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 went beyond what the Constitution allowed for the Court’s jurisdiction. By asserting that the Constitution is the supreme law and that the Court has the final authority to interpret it, the decision created a lasting mechanism for ensuring laws and actions align with constitutional principles.

This is different from the other notable cases. McCulloch v Maryland dealt with federal power and states’ rights, emphasizing that federal law is supreme when constitutionally authorized. Brown v Board of Education focused on equal protection and desegregation in schools. Ex Parte Merryman involved civil liberties during wartime and the limits of presidential power. None of these established judicial review, but they each addressed other important constitutional questions.