Final answer:
The power of judicial review, the authority of courts to invalidate unconstitutional laws and actions, was established by the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. It's a fundamental aspect of the U.S. system of checks and balances and has been used sparingly throughout history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The landmark Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review was Marbury v. Madison, decided in 1803. This case affirmed the power of the courts to assess the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions. Judicial review is the authority of courts to invalidate laws and governmental actions that are found to violate the Constitution. It was during the determination of Marbury v. Madison that Chief Justice John Marshall articulated the duty of the judiciary to void any legislation that is contrary to the Constitution, thereby establishing this essential check on the other branches of government. This principle has since been a cornerstone of the American legal system, reinforcing the balance of power among the branches of government.
In practice, the use of judicial review is infrequent; the Supreme Court has invalidated less than 0.25 percent of all national laws and a larger, but still small, number of state laws since the establishment of this doctrine. The decision in Marbury v. Madison has had a profound and lasting impact on the function of the judicial system both federally and at the state level.