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Marbury v. Madison (Appointed fed. Judge by Pres. Adams night before Adams left office) (Sec. of State for Jefferson) (1803). Background “ Midnight Judge” Marbury asked Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his commission as a federal judge (according to the Judiciary Act of 1789) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Marbury v. Madison(Appointed fed. Judge by Pres. Adams night before Adams left office)
(Sec. of State for Jefferson)
(1803)• Background
– “Midnight Judge” Marbury asked Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his commission as a federal judge (according to the Judiciary Act of 1789)
• Constitutional Issue– The Judiciary Act of 1789
added the power of the writ of mandamus (a court order requiring a gov’t official to carry out his duty) to the original powers in the Constitution
Marbury v. Madison
• Decision– Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional
because it added types of original jurisdiction for the Supreme Court that were not given to the SC in the Constitution
• Importance– Supreme Court established the precedent of
JUDICIAL REVIEW – the power of the court to declare a law unconstitutional
Fletcher v. Peck(1810)
• Background:
Georgia legislature was involved in a corrupt land deal. A new GA legislature revoked the sale of the land. Mr. Peck bought land from original company and sold it to Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher wanted his contract with Mr. Peck to be declared null & void and his money returned because Mr. Peck did not have clear title to the land when it was sold.
Fletcher v. Peck
• Issue:– Can a contract be
cancelled by a new law passed by the legislature?
• Decision– Original land sale was
legal (even though the legislature was corrupt). Cannot cancel the sale ex post facto ! (after the fact)Importance:
States cannot pass a law impairing the terms of a contractSupreme Court declared a state law unconstitutional
Dartmouth College v. Woodward(1819)
• Background– Dartmouth was originally
chartered as a private college
– In 1816, the State of New Hampshire passed a law converting it to a state-run college
• Constitutional Issue– Did the N.H. law violate the
Constitutional provisions protecting private property and the legality of contracts?
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
• Decision– Actions of N.H. legislature were
unconstitutional. The charter was considered to be a contract and could not be broken by the state
• Importance– Supreme Court reversed the decision of the
state court.– It guaranteed the protection of contracts from
government actions
McCulloch v. Maryland(1819)
• Background– Maryland imposed a tax on
the Bank of the US branch office in Maryland in an attempt to force the BUS out of business in Maryland
• Constitutional Issue– Was the BUS properly
created through the use of the elastic clause?
– Can the state tax a federal agency like the BUS?
McCulloch v. Maryland
• Decision– Upheld the Constitutionality of the BUS– Ruled the states cannot tax the federal
government because “the power to tax is the power to destroy”
• Importance– ↑ power of the national gov’t through
use of elastic clause– Limited power of states
Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)
• Background– 2 men operating competing steamboats in the waters between NY & NJ– Ogden – exclusive license by NY– Gibbons – license from federal gov’t
• Constitutional Issue– Could NY authorize exclusive rights to the waters between NY & NJ?
Gibbons v. Ogden
• Decision– Operation of steamboats was interstate
commerce; Congress (not states), regulates interstate commerce
• Importance– Defined interstate commerce to include
transportation (eventually railroads, airlines, trucking companies)
– Expanded role of federal gov’t
Worcester v. Georgia(1832)
• Background– 2 missionaries refused to
obey the Georgia law requiring all whites living in Cherokee territory to obtain a license.
• Constitutional Issue– Can the state pass laws
concerning the Indian Nations or are the Indian Nations sovereign (have right to make their own decisions)?
GO TO PG. 9 IN STUDY PACKET…
Worcester v. Georgia
• Decision– The state has no power to pass any laws affecting the
Cherokees because it was federal jurisdiction
• Importance– Established tribal autonomy (sovereignty) within their
boundaries– Pres. Jackson disagreed, refused to enforce this
decision; – Cherokees won case but later were removed from
land by state of Georgia…“Trail of Tears”