Civics Literacy: Landmark Cases fully solved graded A+ PASSED
Marbury v. Madison (1803): Judicial Review, Federalism - correct answer • President
... [Show More] John Adams' Secretary of State never delivered Marbury's documents to make him Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia
• New President Thomas Jefferson ordered his Secretary James Madison to not deliver the documents because of Marbury's opposing political party
• Marbury sued Madison to require him to deliver said documents
• Established concept of judicial review
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): State Taxes, National Supremacy - correct answer The U.S. government created the first national bank for the country in 1791, a time during which a national bank was controversial due to competition, corruption, and the perception that the federal government was becoming too powerful. Maryland attempted to close the Baltimore branch of the national bank by passing a law that forced all banks that were created outside of the state to pay a yearly tax. James McCulloch, a branch employee, refused to pay the tax. The State of Maryland sued McCulloch saying that Maryland had the power to tax any business in its state and that the Constitution does not give Congress the power to create a national bank. McCulloch was convicted and fined, but he appealed the decision. The Supreme Court determined that Congress has implied powers that allow it to create a national bank, even though the Constitution does not explicitly state that power, and that Maryland's taxing of its branches was unconstitutional.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): State Rights, Commerce Clause - correct answer In 1808, the government of New York granted a steamboat company a monopoly to operate its boats on the state's waters, which included bodies of water that stretched between states. Aaron Ogden held a license under this monopoly to operate steamboats between New Jersey and New York. Thomas Gibbons, another steamboat operator, competed with Aaron Ogden on this same route but held a federal coasting license issued by an act of Congress. Ogden filed a complaint in New York court to stop Gibbons from operating his boats, claiming that the monopoly granted by New York was legal even though he operated on shared, interstate waters. Gibbons disagreed arguing that the U.S. Constitution gave Congress the sole power over interstate commerce. After losing twice in New York courts, Gibbons appealed the case to the Supreme Court. Th [Show Less]