Final answer:
The Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison is historically significant for establishing the principle of judicial review, which empowered the Supreme Court to nullify legislative and executive actions by declaring them unconstitutional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Significance of Marbury v. Madison
The significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is that the decision established the power of judicial review.
This landmark case took place in 1803 and involved William Marbury, who had been appointed as a justice of the peace in the District of Columbia by outgoing President John Adams. Marbury's commission was not delivered, and he petitioned the Supreme Court to compel James Madison, Jefferson's secretary of state, to deliver it.
Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that, while Marbury was entitled to his commission, the portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that would have allowed the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus to enforce it was unconstitutional. Thus, the Supreme Court could not issue the writ and Marbury would not receive his commission.
In this way, Marbury v. Madison simultaneously upheld the principle that individuals had rights that the presidency could not violate, and established the court's role as a powerful check on the Legislative and Executive branches by asserting its power to review - and potentially nullify - their actions.
This decision is a cornerstone of the United States legal system and has had a profound impact on the balance of powers within the federal government, supporting strong judicial oversight over the other branches of government.