Question

Marbury v. Madison was sparked by Jefferson's attempts to repeal the judgeships initiated by Adams's "midnight appointments."

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

Marbury v. Madison was indeed sparked by Jefferson's attempts to repeal Adams's 'midnight appointments,' making the statement True.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is True.

In 1803, the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison was indeed sparked by Thomas Jefferson's attempts to repeal the judgeships initiated by John Adams's 'midnight appointments.' Adams, who was a Federalist, appointed several federal judges in an attempt to secure Federalist influence in the judiciary. However, some of these appointments were not delivered before Jefferson took office, leading to a legal dispute and Marbury's request for a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court to force delivery of his commission.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled against Marbury, stating that the Judiciary Act of 1789, under which Marbury made his petition, was unconstitutional. This decision established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to review and strike down laws it deems unconstitutional.