Which landmark case established the principle of judicial review?

• A. Plessy v. Ferguson
• B. Marbury v. Madison
• C. Brown v. Board of Education
• D. Roe v. Wade

Answer: (B)

Judicial review is the power of courts to examine laws and government actions and decide whether they violate the Constitution. This power lets the judiciary check the other branches and strike down unconstitutional measures. Marbury v. Madison established this authority for the Supreme Court. In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that while Marbury had a right to his commission, a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 extended the Court’s powers beyond what the Constitution permitted. Because of that, the Court voided that part of the act, setting the precedent that courts can review laws and executive actions and declare them unconstitutional. The other cases addressed different issues—such as racial segregation or abortion rights—and did not establish the principle of judicial review.