Court Power Play Worksheet
Court Power Play
Marbury v. Madison
Student:
Date:
The Argument
President John Adams was leaving his job. He picked new judges so his friends would stay in power.
The new President, Thomas Jefferson, was angry. He told his helper NOT to deliver the papers.
One judge named William Marbury never got his papers. He asked the Supreme Court for help.
Adams
Picks Judges
Jefferson
Stops Them
Court
Decides
The Result
The Court could not give Marbury his job. Instead, they used a huge new power called judicial review. This made the Court as powerful as the President.
Review
Judicial Review
The power of the Supreme Court to check if a law or action follows the Constitution.
Check Your Thinking
1. Why was Thomas Jefferson angry with John Adams?
2. In your own words, what is judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison Case Study
Adams vs Jefferson • Supreme Court
