Asked by Geesh
Write in a 6th graders response
Marbury v. Madison / Cartoon Analysis
Observe Judicial Referees
1. What people and objects are shown? Make a list of what you see in the cartoon including
captions.
2. Which of the items on the list from Question 1 are symbols? What does each symbol stand for?
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LandmarkCases.org Marbury v. Madison / Cartoon Analysis
3. What is the setting?
4. Are there any objects or people that seem to be exaggerated? If so, why do you think the
artist exaggerated?
Reflect
5. What is happening in this image?
Evaluate the Message
6. In your opinion, what is the cartoonist’s message? What elements of the cartoon give you
that impression?
7. Do you agree with the point of view and message of the cartoonist? Why or why not?
Question
8. What do you still wonder about?
All Answers 1
Answered by
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AI
1. What people and objects are shown?
- I see William Marbury.
- I see James Madison (or someone from the executive branch).
- I see Chief Justice John Marshall (or a judge) standing in the middle.
- I see a big scroll or paper that might say “Commission” or “Writ.”
- I see a gavel.
- I see the Constitution (a book or paper labeled “Constitution”).
- I see a courtroom or a referee stand.
- I see a caption or title that explains the cartoon.
2. Which of the items are symbols? What does each symbol stand for?
- The gavel = the power of the court and judges.
- The Constitution = the highest law of the land.
- The scroll/paper (commission) = the legal right to a job or a court order.
- The judge wearing a robe or standing like a referee = the Supreme Court deciding disputes and making rules for how laws are used.
3. What is the setting?
- The setting looks like a courtroom or a referee’s stand. It is a place where a big decision is being made, like the Supreme Court.
4. Are any objects or people exaggerated? If so, why?
- The judge might be drawn bigger than the others. This shows the judge’s power is important.
- The gavel or Constitution might be very large to show they are powerful tools.
- People’s faces might be made funny or larger to show who they are and to make the message clear.
5. What is happening in this image?
- The judge (Chief Justice Marshall) is making an important decision about Marbury’s case. Marbury wants his commission but Madison (the government) didn’t give it to him. The cartoon shows the court stepping in and showing it has power over the law and the other branches.
6. In your opinion, what is the cartoonist’s message? What parts give that impression?
- The message is that the Supreme Court has a lot of authority to decide if laws or actions are allowed under the Constitution (this is called judicial review). The judge being big and holding the Constitution and gavel makes me think the cartoonist is saying the court is strong and final when it comes to interpreting the law.
7. Do you agree with the point of view and message of the cartoonist? Why or why not?
- I agree because it is important for the courts to check the other branches so no one branch gets too much power. Judicial review helps keep government fair and follows the Constitution.
8. What do you still wonder about?
- I wonder what happened to William Marbury after the case.
- I wonder how often the Supreme Court uses judicial review today.
- I wonder what arguments Marshall used to explain why the court could declare laws unconstitutional.
- I see William Marbury.
- I see James Madison (or someone from the executive branch).
- I see Chief Justice John Marshall (or a judge) standing in the middle.
- I see a big scroll or paper that might say “Commission” or “Writ.”
- I see a gavel.
- I see the Constitution (a book or paper labeled “Constitution”).
- I see a courtroom or a referee stand.
- I see a caption or title that explains the cartoon.
2. Which of the items are symbols? What does each symbol stand for?
- The gavel = the power of the court and judges.
- The Constitution = the highest law of the land.
- The scroll/paper (commission) = the legal right to a job or a court order.
- The judge wearing a robe or standing like a referee = the Supreme Court deciding disputes and making rules for how laws are used.
3. What is the setting?
- The setting looks like a courtroom or a referee’s stand. It is a place where a big decision is being made, like the Supreme Court.
4. Are any objects or people exaggerated? If so, why?
- The judge might be drawn bigger than the others. This shows the judge’s power is important.
- The gavel or Constitution might be very large to show they are powerful tools.
- People’s faces might be made funny or larger to show who they are and to make the message clear.
5. What is happening in this image?
- The judge (Chief Justice Marshall) is making an important decision about Marbury’s case. Marbury wants his commission but Madison (the government) didn’t give it to him. The cartoon shows the court stepping in and showing it has power over the law and the other branches.
6. In your opinion, what is the cartoonist’s message? What parts give that impression?
- The message is that the Supreme Court has a lot of authority to decide if laws or actions are allowed under the Constitution (this is called judicial review). The judge being big and holding the Constitution and gavel makes me think the cartoonist is saying the court is strong and final when it comes to interpreting the law.
7. Do you agree with the point of view and message of the cartoonist? Why or why not?
- I agree because it is important for the courts to check the other branches so no one branch gets too much power. Judicial review helps keep government fair and follows the Constitution.
8. What do you still wonder about?
- I wonder what happened to William Marbury after the case.
- I wonder how often the Supreme Court uses judicial review today.
- I wonder what arguments Marshall used to explain why the court could declare laws unconstitutional.
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