John Marshall's Court Cases

John Marshall was the fourth chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1800-1835. Marshall’s court opinions helped lay the basis for the United States constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States an equal branch of government, along with legislative and executive branches. He had previously been a leader of the Federalist Party in Virginia and served in the United States House of Representatives from 199 to 1800. John Marshall’s court cases expanded the power of the court, solidified federalist ideals, and added the court to the checks and balances system. Being a big supporter of Federal power, Marshall had three major cases involving the expansion of federal power. Those three cases were Marbury v. Madison, Gibbons v Ogden, and McCulloch v Maryland. Marbury v. Madison was the first time the Supreme Court declared something "unconstitutional," and established the concept of judicial review in the U.S. The landmark decision helped define the "checks and balances" of the American form of government. It certainly strengthened the power of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch by giving them the power of judicial review, which allows the Supreme Court to decide what is and isn't constitutional. Gibbons v. Ogden was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the power to regulate interstate commerce was granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. This increased the power of the government to regulate interstate commerce. The case expanded federal power to include control over trade between the United States and other countries. McCulloch v Maryland introduced the Necessary and Proper Clause. This expanded the government power in relation to the states in that federal law is also to be abided by in the states, as well as in the nation. The clause gives Congress the right to "make all laws necessary and proper." It stretches the power of