The Judicial Branch
Active Members of the Supreme Court
Structure of the Federal Court System
Important Supreme Court Cases
• Marbury v. Madison
· Because Jefferson did not want to recognize Marbury as an appointed leader of the District of Columbia, he directed his Secretary of State, James Madison
to not deliver Marbury's commission. Marbury sued Madison and won. The ruling spelled out the rules of the judicial branch, thus establishing judicial
review.
· Judicial Review: Supreme Court determined law was unconstitutional.
• McCulloch v. Maryland
· Maryland decided to tax all bank business done outside Maryland. McCulloch refused to pay his taxes, and Maryland sued. The Supreme Court said that
the states could not tax federal business, (the federal bank.)
· The Court expanded Congress’ powers to include implied powers of the Constitution.
· Established federal power higher than state power; reinforced the Supremacy Clause
• Miranda v. Arizona
· Serial rapist, Miranda, gave full confessions to the acts he had done to multiple women, but he did not know his rights; the man was set free (but later
convicted of another crime)
· Established Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you…”
• Plessy v. Ferguson
· Plessy, a black man, sat on an all-white train car and was arrested. The trail said that segregation was legal.
· Segregation: “Separate but Equal”
• Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
· Linda Brown's father sued the Topeka board of education because he wanted his daughter to have a better education, which meant he wanted her to
attend a white school instead of the segregated black school. This trial make segregation illegal.
· Integration: “Separate is NOT Equal”
· Supreme Court can change its mind.
· Because Jefferson did not want to recognize Marbury as an appointed leader of the District of Columbia, he directed his Secretary of State, James Madison
to not deliver Marbury's commission. Marbury sued Madison and won. The ruling spelled out the rules of the judicial branch, thus establishing judicial
review.
· Judicial Review: Supreme Court determined law was unconstitutional.
• McCulloch v. Maryland
· Maryland decided to tax all bank business done outside Maryland. McCulloch refused to pay his taxes, and Maryland sued. The Supreme Court said that
the states could not tax federal business, (the federal bank.)
· The Court expanded Congress’ powers to include implied powers of the Constitution.
· Established federal power higher than state power; reinforced the Supremacy Clause
• Miranda v. Arizona
· Serial rapist, Miranda, gave full confessions to the acts he had done to multiple women, but he did not know his rights; the man was set free (but later
convicted of another crime)
· Established Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you…”
• Plessy v. Ferguson
· Plessy, a black man, sat on an all-white train car and was arrested. The trail said that segregation was legal.
· Segregation: “Separate but Equal”
• Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
· Linda Brown's father sued the Topeka board of education because he wanted his daughter to have a better education, which meant he wanted her to
attend a white school instead of the segregated black school. This trial make segregation illegal.
· Integration: “Separate is NOT Equal”
· Supreme Court can change its mind.