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Creation of Supreme Court
First legislation that came before the Senate. The official court of the US. -
John Jay
First Cheif Justice of the Supreme Court chosen by George Washington. -
John Marshall
Third Cheif Justice. The longest serving Cheif Justice, for over 3 decades. He established that the federal courts are entitled to exercise judicial review, the power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. -
• Marbury v. Madison
First time the court declared something unconstitutional. The decision helped define the "checks and balances" of the American form of government. -
Fletcher v. Peck
The decision helped create a growing precedent for the sanctity of legal contracts, and hinted that Native Americans did not hold title to their own lands. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
The New Hampshire legislature attempted to force the college to become a public institution. The decision ruled in favor of the College and invalidated the act of the New Hampshire Legislature, which in turn allowed Dartmouth to continue as a private institution. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The state of Maryland had attempted to impede operation of a branch of the Second Bank of the United States by imposing a tax on all notes of banks not chartered in Maryland. The court determined that Congress had the power to charter the bank. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Aaron Ogden filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of New York asking the court to restrain Gibbons from operating on New York waterways. commerce clause: "The Congress shall have power [...] To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;" The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gibbons. -
Worcester v. Georgia
the Supreme Court vacated the conviction of Samuel Worcester, holding that the Georgia criminal statute, prohibiting non-Indians from being present on Indian lands without a license from the state, was unconstitutional.
