Marbury v. Madison and the Marshall Court

Start Free Trial

Student Question

Which of the following is true of Marbury vs. Madison?

 

A.one of the midnight judges tried to force Madison to deliver his commission

B.supreme court 1st exercised Judicial Review

C. part of the judiciary actof1789 was declared unconstitutional

D.all of the above?

Quick answer:

The correct answer is D, as all the statements A through C are true. In Marbury v. Madison, one of the midnight judges, Marbury, attempted to compel Madison to deliver his commission, making A true. The Supreme Court first exercised judicial review in this case, confirming B. Additionally, a part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was declared unconstitutional, validating C. Therefore, D encapsulates all correct statements.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The answer to this is D.  All of the statements A through C are true, thus making D the best answer.

This case arose when the outgoing President Adams made a number of “midnight appointments” to keep the federal judiciary in the hands of the Federalist Party.  Incoming President Thomas Jefferson refused to honor the appointments.  Marbury, one of the judges, sued to force James Madison (Secretary of State) to recognize the appointment.  This makes A correct.  The Supreme Court ruled that the law under which Marbury had been appointed was unconstitutional, making C correct.  This was the first time that the Supreme Court had exercised judicial review, making B correct.  Therefore, D is the best answer.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial