Final answer:
The happening is the establishment of the principle of judicial review by the Supreme Court in the Marbury v. Madison case of 1803, where Chief Justice John Marshall declared a Congressional act unconstitutional, strengthening the judiciary's role in the American legal system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Establishment of Judicial Review
The happening in question likely refers to the establishment of the principle of judicial review in the United States. This monumental event occurred due to the famous case of Marbury v. Madison, decided by the Supreme Court in 1803. Chief Justice John Marshall played a pivotal role in this development during his influential tenure on the Court. The controversy began when William Marbury, a last-minute appointee who had been named a Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia by outgoing President John Adams, did not receive his commission due to an oversight by the departing administration. When the new administration under President Thomas Jefferson refused to deliver the commission, Marbury took his case directly to the Supreme Court.
Marshall's decision in Marbury v. Madison was pioneering, as it ruled that part of the Congressional statute granting the Supreme Court the power to issue Marbury's commission directly was unconstitutional. This was because the Constitution did not authorize the Court to hear cases like Marbury's in its original jurisdiction. By declaring the Congressional act unconstitutional, Marshall affirmed the Supreme Court's authority to review, and potentially nullify, congressional and presidential actions, thus establishing the enduring principle of judicial review. This decision significantly strengthened the role of the judiciary branch, making it a coequal partner with the legislative and executive branches in governing the United States.
John Marshall's influence on the Supreme Court and his assertion of judicial power were essential to shaping the American legal system. His tenure as Chief Justice was marked by decisions that underscored the supremacy of the federal government and its laws over the states, advancing the concept of judicial nationalism. This era was crucial in the development of the American national identity and in balancing the powers among the branches of government.