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Creation of the Supreme Court
Judiciary Act: Stated that the Supreme Court created had 6 members, 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts throughout the US. Second to the Federal government's word.
Signficance: Is still used as our present day system and created a strong central government that had a lot of power in determining -
John Jay
First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, made so by George Washington. Served for 5 years as Chief Justice before becoming governor of his home state New York. Didn't accept the second term that was offered to him by John Adams.
Significance: Used to be a president in the Continental Congress, so he already had political experience when he entered into the 'opening' of the Supreme Court. Was there when it began. -
John Marshall
Famous Supreme Court Chief Justice who was elected by Adams and stayed on request through Jefferson's term. Served as Chief Justice for 34 years.
Significance: He helped bring the Supreme Court to it's highest power and establish great authority over the Constitution for the federal government. -
Marbury v. Madison
At the end of his presidency, John Adams appointed William Marbury to be a midnight judge. It didn't get reviewed until Adams was out of office. When Marbury was denied his position when Jefferson took office, he sued the Sec. of State. Congress tried to follow through with Adam's decree, but Mashall vetoed it. First act of Congress ever deemed unconstitutional
Sig: This established the doctrine of judicial review. It holds the court as the highest and final vote if a law/act is constitutional. -
Fletcher v. Peck
A bribe caused 35 million acres to be sold by Georgia. When a new legislature was appointed, they pleaded the falseness of the contract made. Marshall protected the contract, saying that the Constitution called for all contracts to be honored.
Significance: There was no specification on which type of contract this applied to, private or public, so both were honored. Both public and private property then had legal protection. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
New Hampshire changed Dartmouth college's private status into a regular state university. Gave the power of Dartmouth's corporation over to the Governor. Woodward was a man who advocated the change in Dartmouth, and the college pleaded against him. It was decided that the charter Dartmouth had was like a private contract, and Dartmouth won.
Sig: Since the Constitution didn't exactly specify if a charter counted as a contract, Marshall extended the honoring of private contracts to charters too. -
McCollough v. Maryland
There was debate on whether or not setting up a Second National Bank of the US was constitutional. Marshall decided it was, and the bank was founded.
Significance: Marshall interpreted the Constitution's words "necessary and proper" into his own, and was able to say the Bank would be useful. He dug around in the meaning until it meant what he wanted it to mean and passed it. 'Implied powers' extended the federal governments power by an exponential amount in this. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Ogden owned a monopoly in the steamboat business. Gibbons came along and set his boats up in the same area. Ogden took it to court, claiming he had the rights to the area. Gibbons' case won.
Significance: Marshall extended federal power by excersizing the government's right to control interstate commerce. -
Worcester v. Georgia
After Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which allowed him to talk any Indian out of their land as long as he had a signed treaty, a group of Indians in Georgia took their pleads to the Supreme Court for Jackson to stop. The court sided with the Indians.
Significance: Jackson ignored the verdict, even though it was made by the Supreme Court. This greatly influenced today's presidencies by expanding presidential power.
