Marbury v. Madison is best known for establishing which constitutional principle?

• A. Federal supremacy over state law
• B. The doctrine of executive privilege
• C. The right to a speedy trial
• D. Judicial review

Answer: (D)

Judicial review is the power of courts to interpret the Constitution and strike down laws or government actions that conflict with it. Marbury v. Madison is the landmark case that established this power for the U.S. Supreme Court. In this decision, Marshall showed that while Marbury had a rightful claim to his commission, the Court could not grant the remedy through a writ because the statute enabling that remedy was unconstitutional. That ruling made clear that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and it is the judiciary’s role to interpret it and decide what government actions are constitutional. Since then, the Court has the authority to review acts of Congress and the President and to invalidate those that violate the Constitution. The other options refer to different ideas not established by this case: federal supremacy over state law relates to the relationship between federal and state powers; executive privilege concerns the President’s confidential communications; the right to a speedy trial is a separate criminal-procedure guarantee.