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How does Marbury v. Madison enhance the checks and balances system?
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Marbury v. Madison significantly enhanced the checks and balances system by establishing the principle of judicial review. This landmark decision by the Marshall Court granted the Supreme Court the authority to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of actions by the executive and legislative branches. By doing so, the Court gained the power to prevent these branches from enacting laws that violate constitutional rights, thereby ensuring a balance of power among the federal government's branches.
Marbury v Madison had a significant influence on the system of checks and balances applied on the federal and state governments. Through validation of the third article as contained in America’s constitution, the Marshall Court gave the Supreme Court the highest level of judicial power. Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court had the ultimate power to interpret the constitution as well as decide whether the acts of the other two arms of government were contrary to constitutional provisions or not.
In other words, Marbury v Madison initiated the principle of judicial review that gave the court the mandate to regulate the power of the executive and legislature. The court would regulate the power of the other two arms of government by preventing them from passing and implementing laws that infringe on the constitutional rights of the citizens. In fact, in 1803 for the first time, the Supreme Court declared an act of Congress unconstitutional.
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