Marbury v. Madison established which principle?

• A. Judicial restraint
• B. Judicial review
• C. Separation of powers
• D. Federalism

Answer: (B)

The essential idea being tested is that courts can review laws and government actions to ensure they follow the Constitution, a power called judicial review. In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court established this authority, declaring that the Constitution is the supreme law and that the judiciary has the duty and power to interpret it and strike down federal actions that conflict with it. This case created the precedent that the courts can nullify laws or executive actions that violate the Constitution, providing a check on both Congress and the President. The other concepts—judicial restraint, separation of powers, and federalism—describe different aspects of how government is organized or how a court should exercise its power, but they do not capture the specific power affirmed in this case.