Why was Marbury v Madison an important Supreme Court case?

Question

It created the Supreme Court
It created Congressional oversight
It created the idea of judicial review
It created executive powers

Answer 1

The most significant reason why Marbury v. Madison is considered an important Supreme Court case is that it established the concept of judicial review. In this case, decided in 1803, the Supreme Court ruled that it had the power to review and declare acts of Congress and the Executive Branch as unconstitutional.

This decision provided the Judiciary with the authority to interpret the Constitution and strike down laws that violated its provisions. It was a groundbreaking decision as it strengthened the checks and balances among the three branches of government and cemented the Supreme Court's role as the final arbiter of constitutional interpretation.

Contrary to the options you mentioned, Marbury v. Madison did not create the Supreme Court, Congressional oversight, or executive powers. The Supreme Court was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789, while Congressional oversight and executive powers are inherent to their respective branches as outlined in the Constitution.