Which 1803 Supreme Court decision established judicial review?

• A. Dred Scott v. Sandford
• B. Marbury v. Madison
• C. Plessy v. Ferguson
• D. Roe v. Wade

Answer: (B)

Judicial review is the idea that the Supreme Court can interpret the Constitution and nullify laws that don’t fit with it. In 1803, Marbury v. Madison established this power, making the Court the ultimate interpreter of constitutional limits. The case arose when William Marbury sought a court order to compel the new government to seat him as a judge. The Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that while Marbury deserved his commission, the section of the Judiciary Act that would have let the Court issue that kind of writ went beyond what the Constitution allowed. That decision didn’t just decide Marbury’s case—it asserted that the Court has the authority to review legislation and declare laws unconstitutional if they conflict with the Constitution. This created the crucial check on Congress and helped shape how the other branches interact with constitutional limits.

Other landmark cases you might have heard about tackled different topics—citizenship and slavery, segregation, or abortion rights—and they don’t mark the origin of judicial review. They show how the Court has continued to interpret the Constitution in specific situations, but Marbury v. Madison is the foundational moment that established the power for courts to review laws for constitutional compatibility.