Texas A&M University (TAMU) POLS206 American National Government Exam 3 Practice

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison, primarily pertains to federal laws. This landmark case, decided in 1803, asserted the Court’s authority to review acts of Congress and determine whether they are in compliance with the Constitution. When Marbury challenged the denial of his commission, the Court evaluated the constitutionality of the Judiciary Act of 1789, thereby emphasizing its role in interpreting federal statutes.

This established the precedent that the Supreme Court could invalidate federal laws that conflict with the Constitution, reinforcing the principle of checks and balances among the branches of government. While state laws and local ordinances can also be reviewed under certain circumstances, the context of Marbury v. Madison specifically relates to the interpretation of federal law and its alignment with the Constitution, making federal laws the focus of judicial review in this case.