Which of the following principles or practices was established in Marbury v. Madison?

Rationale

Judicial review was established in Marbury v. Madison.

The landmark case Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, which allows the Supreme Court to invalidate laws and actions that are found to be unconstitutional. This case set a precedent for the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring that no law or government action can supersede constitutional authority.

A (judicial review) CORRECT

This is the correct choice as Marbury v. Madison explicitly laid the groundwork for judicial review, affirming the authority of the Supreme Court to review and nullify government actions that conflict with the Constitution. This principle has become a cornerstone of American constitutional law, ensuring the judiciary acts as a check on legislative and executive power.

B (executive orders) YOUR ANSWER

Executive orders are directives issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government. While they can hold significant power, the concept of executive orders was not established by Marbury v. Madison. This case focused specifically on the judiciary's power rather than the executive branch's authority.

C (legislative supremacy) YOUR ANSWER

Legislative supremacy refers to the doctrine that the legislative branch has the ultimate authority in law-making. Marbury v. Madison did not establish this principle; rather, it highlighted the judiciary's role in reviewing legislative actions to ensure they conform to constitutional requirements, thus limiting legislative power when necessary.

D (presidential succession) YOUR ANSWER

Presidential succession outlines the order of officials who may take over the presidency in case of vacancy. This principle was not addressed in Marbury v. Madison, which concentrated on the authority of the judiciary instead of executive succession matters. Presidential succession is governed by separate legislation and constitutional provisions.

Conclusion

The case of Marbury v. Madison was pivotal in establishing the principle of judicial review, empowering the judicial branch to assess the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions. This decision reinforced the system of checks and balances integral to the U.S. government, ensuring that no branch exceeds its constitutional authority. The other options—executive orders, legislative supremacy, and presidential succession—are unrelated to the core ruling of this historic case.