Major Supreme Court Cases: The Growth of the Federal Government
Marbury vs.
Madison
Year:
McCulloch v.
Maryland
Year:
Gibbons v.
Ogden
Year:
Details of the Case
William Marbury, a Federalist, does
not receive his appointment, from
outgoing President Adams, to a
federal court before Jefferson
becomes president. Marbury sues
Madison, the Sec. of State, taking
his case to the Supreme Court to
force the delivery of his judgeship.
Congress charters a National Bank,
angering states & Federalist.
Maryland taxes any money that
comes out of the National Bank.
James McCulloch, a bank teller in
Baltimore, ignores law. Maryland
sues him.
New York gave Aaron Ogden
(among others) a monopoly on
steamship travel in the state.
Thomas Gibbons, from New Jersey,
wanted to use New York waters for
his steamship. Ogden files
complaint to keep Gibbons out of
NY waters.
Decision of the Court
So What?
Major Supreme Court Cases: The Growth of the Federal Government
Moral of today’s Lesson:
The Constitution says
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Marbury vs.
Madison
Year:
(1803)
Fletcher v.
Peck
Year: (1810)
Martin v.
Hunter’s Lessee
Year: (1816)
McCulloch v.
Maryland
Year: (1819)
Cohens v.
Virginia
Year: (1821)
Details of the Case
Decision of the Court
So What?
William Marbury, a Federalist, does not receive
his appointment to a federal court before
Jefferson becomes president. He sues Madison,
the Sec. of State, to force the delivery of his
judgeship, taking his case directly to the
Supreme Court.
Partly in order to avoid showdown with
Jefferson, court rules in favor of Madison,
stating that Judiciary Act of 1789 was
unconstitutional to start with, thus, Marbury
took his case to the wrong place. He does not
receive his appointment.
Despite backing down to Jefferson, Court gains
powerful tool – Judicial Review. Court now has
authority to rule whether or not acts of the
government are constitutional.
Georgia sold western land in 1795. Turns out,
land deal was full of scandal/bribes; legislative
voided land deal in 1796. In 1800, Peck bought
land; sold it to Fletcher in 1803. Fletcher sued
saying Peck did not have the right to sell the
land in the first place.
Court held that since the estate had been legally
"passed into the hands of a purchaser for a valuable
consideration," the Georgia legislature could not take
away the land or invalidate the contract. The Court
held that laws annulling contracts or grants made by
previous legislative acts were constitutionally
impermissible – regardless of intention when passed.
Denny Martin, British, inherited land from his
uncle, Lord Fairfax. After Revolution, Virginia
took land from Fairfax/Martin and granted it to
David Hunter. Treaty of Paris protected land
owned by loyalist – Virginia refused to abide by
treaty. Martin sued Hunter to get land back.
VA SC upheld the confiscation, not on the grounds that
VA law was superior to US treaties, but because it argued
that its own interpretation of the treaty revealed that the
treaty did not, in fact, cover the dispute. The USSC
disagreed, and remanded the case back to VA S.C., VA
argued that the USSC did not have authority over cases
originating in state court. The USSC reversed VA’s
decision on appeal, ruling that questions of federal law
were within its jurisdiction, and thereby establishing
supremacy in matters of constitutional interpretation.
1st: protected contracts from state interference.
2nd: Court could overturn state laws that
opposed specific provisions of the Constitution
Contract Clause: Art I, sect 10, clause 1. It
states: “ No State shall…pass any Bill of
Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
the Obligation of Contracts…
Court could accept appeals from state courts
that involve federal laws or treaties. More
importantly, it asserted the Supreme Court’s
sovereignty over state courts, rejecting VA’s
claim that they were equal sovereigns.
Congress charters a National Bank, angering
states & Federalist. Maryland taxes any money
that comes out of the National Bank. James
McCulloch, a bank teller in Baltimore, ignores
law. Maryland sues him.
Court ruled that Congress did have the authority to
charter a bank – via their authority to collect taxes,
borrow money, regulate commerce & raise
army/navy (necessary and proper). Also, Fed Govt is
supreme and states could not interfere; taxing the
bank was interference.
Established doctrine of implied powers,
providing Congress with more flexibility to
enact legislation. Reaffirmed supremacy of
Federal government.
Congress passed a law allowing lottery tickets
sold in DC; Cohen brothers sell them in Virginia,
breaking VA law. VA convicted brothers and
stated that VA courts were the final arbiters of
disputes between the states and the national
government.
Court upheld conviction of Cohen brothers.
The larger issue: actually reviewing state court
cases. The SC claimed full appellate jurisdiction
over any case tried before a state court. VA
decided that this was unacceptable & declared
the decision the SC made null & void, even
though it had upheld the previous conviction,
Reasserted federal judicial authority over state
courts. Supreme Court argued that when states
ratified the Constitution, they gave up some
sovereignty to federal courts.
Major Supreme Court Cases: The Growth of the Federal Government
because VA felt the ruling limited states' rights.
Gibbons v.
Ogden
Year: (1824)
New York gave Aaron Ogden (among others) a
monopoly on steamship travel in the state.
Thomas Gibbons, from New Jersey, wanted to
use New York waters for his steamship. Ogden
files complaint to keep Gibbons out of NY
waters.
The Court ruled the monopoly unconstitutional.
Constitution grants Congress the power to
regulate interstate commerce – along coast or
on waterways between states. States could
regulate trade within its own border.
Gave Congress the right to regulate interstate
commerce. Interstate commerce clause (along
with Necessary & Proper Clause) major vehicle
for expanding federal power.