Q 01/05

Which principle of American law was established when the Supreme Court decided Marbury v. Madison in 1803?

A) Stare decisis

B) Judicial review

C) Habeas corpus

D) Executive privilege

Answer · why

B) Judicial review

Judicial review lets American courts strike down laws that violate the Constitution, a power the Constitution itself never spells out.

Q 02/05

What was the outcome for William Marbury himself when the Supreme Court ruled on his lawsuit in February 1803?

A) He won his commission

B) He settled out of court

C) He lost the case

D) He was awarded damages

Answer · why

C) He lost the case

He lost the case: the justices ruled 4–0 that they had no power to give him the order he wanted, and he never served in the post.

Q 03/05

Which chief justice wrote the Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Marbury v. Madison?

A) John Marshall

B) John Jay

C) Roger B. Taney

D) John Rutledge

Answer · why

A) John Marshall

John Marshall had led the Court for about two years when he used a minor patronage dispute to claim the power to strike down acts of Congress.

Q 04/05

Which mocking nickname did Thomas Jefferson's allies give William Marbury and other last-minute appointees of 1801?

A) Sunset Judges

B) Parchment Judges

C) Lame Duck Justices

D) Midnight Judges

Answer · why

D) Midnight Judges

Midnight Judges got the name because the outgoing president was said to be signing their appointments late into his last night in office.

Q 05/05

Which outgoing president appointed William Marbury to office just two days before his own term ended in 1801?

A) George Washington

B) John Adams

C) James Monroe

D) Andrew Jackson

Answer · why

B) John Adams

John Adams had lost the 1800 election, so he packed newly created court posts with loyal supporters before his rival could take office.