How did the Supreme Court decisions in Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland clarify the role of the Supreme Court and the power of the federal government?

The Supreme Court decisions in Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland significantly clarified the role of the Supreme Court and the power of the federal government by establishing judicial review and affirming the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

Marbury v. Madison, decided in 1803, introduced the concept of judicial review, which empowers the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress or a state law unconstitutional if it conflicts with the Constitution. This pivotal ruling established the judiciary as an equal branch of government, which has the authority to interpret laws and check the powers of the legislative and executive branches.

Similarly, McCulloch v. Maryland, decided in 1819, reinforced the idea of federal supremacy by confirming that the federal government holds implied powers that extend beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution. The ruling asserted that state laws cannot impede valid constitutional exercises of power by the federal government, essentially affirming the notion that federal law takes precedence over state law.

These decisions collectively solidified the role of the Supreme Court as the arbiter of constitutional interpretation and established a strong foundation for a federal government with authority that is superior to that of the states. This understanding has had long-lasting implications on the balance of power within the American political