What limit on Congress does Marbury v. Madison assert?

• A. Congress cannot pass laws overruling the Constitution, such as by expanding the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.
• B. Congress can amend the Constitution by simple majority vote.
• C. The President can unilaterally change Supreme Court jurisdiction.
• D. States may override constitutional provisions with state constitutions.

Answer: (A)

Judicial review and the supremacy of the Constitution are at the heart of this idea. Marbury v. Madison established that the Constitution is the ultimate law, and Congress cannot pass laws that override it. When Congress attempted to expand the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction through statute, the Court held that such a move could not stand because it conflicted with what the Constitution allows. This shows a concrete limit on congressional power: statutes cannot override the Constitution. The other options mix up powers and processes—amending the Constitution requires a formal process, not a simple majority; the President cannot unilaterally change court jurisdiction; and states cannot override federal constitutional provisions through their own constitutions.