Jonah Patel
The Supreme Court of the United States has played a pivotal role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring constitutional certainty. One notable case is Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established the doctrine of judicial review and affirmed the supremacy of the Constitution over any conflicting congressional acts. Another significant case, McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), clarified the implied powers of the federal government and its supremacy over state laws. The Court's rulings have addressed a range of issues, including racial segregation, free speech, criminal defendants' rights, and reproductive rights, shaping the legal landscape and influencing social change in the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case Name | Marbury v. Madison |
| Year | 1803 |
| Issue | Whether an Act of Congress or the Constitution was the supreme law of the land |
| Holding | Established the doctrine of judicial review |
| Reasoning | The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, but the Constitution did not permit the Court to have original jurisdiction in this matter |
| Decision | The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any contradictory congressional Act is without force |
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What You'll Learn
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The case arose when William Marbury, a Maryland businessman and supporter of the Federalists, was appointed as a justice of the peace by outgoing President John Adams in 1801. However, the new Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury's commission (official document). Marbury then sued Madison in the Supreme Court, seeking a writ of mandamus (a court order commanding an official to perform their duty).
Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the Court's unanimous opinion, which was issued on February 24, 1803. Marshall structured his opinion around three questions: firstly, did Marbury have a right to his commission? Secondly, if so, was there a legal remedy for him to obtain it? And thirdly, could the Supreme Court issue a writ of mandamus in this case? Marshall answered “yes” to the first two questions, establishing that Marbury had a right to his commission and that Madison's refusal to deliver it was a violation of that right.
While Marshall could have avoided the constitutional questions, he chose not to, and his opinion articulated and defended the theory of judicial review. This decision was considered groundbreaking, and many scholars identify Marbury v. Madison as one of the Supreme Court's most important rulings. It established the Court's power of judicial review and its ability to interpret the Constitution, setting a precedent for future cases and shaping the role of the judiciary in the United States.
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McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
The case arose after Congress established the second National Bank of the United States in 1816. Many states, including Maryland, opposed the establishment of national bank branches within their borders, believing it to be an unconstitutional exercise of Congress's power. Maryland imposed a tax of $15,000 per year on the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank of the United States, which cashier James McCulloch refused to pay. McCulloch argued that the national bank was "necessary and proper" for Congress to establish in order to carry out its powers.
The Supreme Court, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Marshall, held that Congress had the implied power to create the Bank of the United States under the "necessary and proper" clause of the US Constitution. This clause granted Congress the authority to carry out any actions necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers. The Court also determined that the Bank of the United States had the right to establish branches within the states and that the states did not have the power to tax or interfere with the bank's operations. This decision established the principle of federal supremacy, asserting that federal laws trump state laws.
The McCulloch v. Maryland decision had a significant impact on constitutional law, establishing two important principles: implied powers and federal supremacy. The case expanded federal power by recognising Congress's implied powers derived from those explicitly listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Additionally, the decision affirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws, setting a precedent for future cases involving conflicts between federal and state authorities.
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Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9–0 decision in favour of the Brown family and the other plaintiffs in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. The decision, penned by Chief Justice Earl Warren, stated that racial segregation in public schools was a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.
The case was a milestone in Supreme Court history, overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case, which had upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Court's unanimous decision in Brown vs. Board of Education paved the way for integration and was a major victory for the civil rights movement. It helped lay the groundwork for future civil rights advancements and integration across the country.
The case originated in Topeka, Kansas, where the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) challenged the constitutionality of segregation in the city's school system. The NAACP argued that state-sanctioned segregation of public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that ""separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This ruling applied not only to the physical facilities but also to the educational opportunities provided to students. The Court held that where a state has provided the right to education in public schools, this right must be available to all on equal terms.
The Brown vs. Board of Education case is a powerful example of the Supreme Court's role in shaping social change and ensuring equal rights for all Americans. It is a testament to the Court's ability to interpret and uphold the Constitution, providing a more inclusive and just society for future generations.
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Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
The case of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) addressed four different cases involving custodial interrogations. In each of these cases, the defendant was questioned by police officers, detectives, or a prosecuting attorney in a room where he was isolated. None of the defendants were informed of their rights at the beginning of the interrogation process. All the interrogations resulted in oral admissions and, in three of them, signed statements that were admitted at trial.
In the case of Ernesto Miranda, he was arrested in Phoenix due to circumstantial evidence that he had been involved in a kidnapping and rape. Miranda confessed to the charges following a lengthy interrogation and signed a statement that said the confession was made knowingly and voluntarily. Miranda was not told of his right to remain silent, of his right to a lawyer, or of the fact that any of his statements during the interrogation could be used against him in court. He objected to the introduction of the written copy of his confession into evidence at trial, stating that his ignorance of his rights made the confession involuntary. When the objection was overruled, Miranda was convicted of the kidnapping and rape at least in part because of the written confession, and he was sentenced to 20-30 years in prison. An appeal based on the confession's allegedly involuntary nature was rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court held that the Fifth and Sixth Amendments require police to inform individuals in custody that they have a right to remain silent and to be assisted by an attorney. According to the Court, if the police fail to do so, a criminal court judge may rule that any statements made by the accused cannot be admitted as evidence during trial.
In the context of constitutional certainty, the Miranda v. Arizona case established a clear precedent for the protection of the constitutional rights of individuals in police custody. The ruling ensured that police interrogations would be conducted with certain procedural safeguards to secure the Fifth Amendment's privilege against self-incrimination. This decision had a significant impact on law enforcement practices and the criminal justice system, providing clarity and certainty in the interpretation and application of constitutional rights during custodial interrogations.
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Tinker v. Des Moines
The principals of the schools became aware of the plan and implemented a policy prohibiting the wearing of armbands, threatening suspension for any students who refused to comply. Despite the warning, three high school and junior high school students, John and Mary Beth Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt, wore the armbands to school and were subsequently suspended.
The students' parents, in conjunction with the ACLU and the state Civil Liberties Union, sued the school board, arguing that their children's right to free speech had been violated. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa sided with the school, ruling that wearing the armbands could disrupt learning. The students appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit but lost and ultimately took the case to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the students, holding that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech...at the schoolhouse gate." The Court determined that the students' speech could only be prohibited if it disrupted the educational process. As there was no evidence of disruption, the school was found to have violated the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. This case set a significant precedent for any challenges to school-based First Amendment rights.
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Frequently asked questions
The Supreme Court held that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, establishing the doctrine of judicial review.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution gives the federal government certain implied powers, and that a state could not tax the national bank.
The Supreme Court upheld the doctrine of "separate but equal", sanctioning segregation.
The Supreme Court unanimously overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court held that police must inform suspects of their Miranda rights before questioning.
