A) judicial review CORRECT This is the correct answer. In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall established the principle of judicial review, which gives the Supreme Court the authority to declare acts of Congress and the executive branch unconstitutional. This power is not explicitly stated in the Constitution but has become a cornerstone of American constitutional law, ensuring that the judiciary can check the other branches and protect the Constitution.
B) executive orders INCORRECT Executive orders are directives issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government. They are based on the President's constitutional authority and are not established by Marbury v. Madison. The case dealt with the judiciary's power, not the executive's. Executive orders have been used throughout American history, but they are not a principle established by this landmark case.
C) legislative supremacy INCORRECT Legislative supremacy is the idea that the legislature is the supreme branch of government, which is not a principle of the American system. The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances where no branch is supreme. Marbury v. Madison actually reinforced the judiciary's role as a check on the legislature, not the other way around. The case asserted that the Supreme Court could declare laws unconstitutional, thereby limiting legislative power.
D) presidential succession INCORRECT Presidential succession refers to the order in which officials assume the presidency if the President is unable to serve. This is governed by the Presidential Succession Act and the 25th Amendment, not by Marbury v. Madison. The case had nothing to do with succession; it was about the power of the judiciary to review laws. Presidential succession is a separate constitutional principle that ensures continuity of government.
