Marbury v Madison: Judicial Review
Marbury asked the Supreme Court to use its original jurisdiction under Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which Congress passed to define the Court's powers. Section 13 said the Supreme Court could issue writs of mandamus in cases involving federal officials. But Article III of the Constitution limits the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction (cases that start at the Supreme Court, not on appeal) to cases involving ambassadors and disputes between states. The question became: Can Congress expand the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction beyond what Article III allows? If Congress can, then the Court had power to hear Marbury's case. If Congress cannot, then Section 13 was unconstitutional—and the Court had to say so.
Marbury v Madison: Judicial Review
Marbury asked the Supreme Court to use its original jurisdiction under Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which Congress passed to define the Court's powers. Section 13 said the Supreme Court could issue writs of mandamus in cases involving federal officials. But Article III of the Constitution limits the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction (cases that start at the Supreme Court, not on appeal) to cases involving ambassadors and disputes between states. The question became: Can Congress expand the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction beyond what Article III allows? If Congress can, then the Court had power to hear Marbury's case. If Congress cannot, then Section 13 was unconstitutional—and the Court had to say so.
Marbury v Madison: Judicial Review
Marbury asked the Supreme Court to use its original jurisdiction under Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which Congress passed to define the Court's powers. Section 13 said the Supreme Court could issue writs of mandamus in cases involving federal officials. But Article III of the Constitution limits the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction (cases that start at the Supreme Court, not on appeal) to cases involving ambassadors and disputes between states. The question became: Can Congress expand the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction beyond what Article III allows? If Congress can, then the Court had power to hear Marbury's case. If Congress cannot, then Section 13 was unconstitutional—and the Court had to say so.