GACE History Practice Exam

The case that established the principle of judicial review is Marbury v. Madison. This landmark decision, decided by the Supreme Court in 1803, was crucial in affirming the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution. Judicial review allows the courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions. In this case, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that it was not within the power of the Supreme Court to force the delivery of commissions, but he also asserted that it was the duty of the judiciary to review acts of Congress and determine whether they were consistent with the Constitution. This established a critical precedent that empowered the courts and solidified the role of the judicial branch within the government framework, ensuring that no law or governmental action could supersede the Constitution.

The other cases mentioned, such as Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade, do not pertain to judicial review. Instead, they address different legal principles such as segregation, civil rights, and reproductive rights, respectively, but do not set a foundational principle regarding the power of the judiciary to invalidate legislation or executive actions based on constitutional grounds.