The Marbury v Madison case was a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Related terms
Judicial Review: A power held by the Supreme Court to determine if laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the President are constitutional.
Unconstitutional: Refers to something that goes against the principles outlined in the Constitution.
Checks and Balances: The system in which each branch of government has some control over the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.