1. Thomas Jefferson and the Supreme Court
Goals and Policies of Jefferson, Marbury v. Madison

2. Jefferson’s Leadership Style
Wanted to make the government more democratic - ensuring that all people have the same rights
Was very informal
Major goals
Reduce the size of the government
Reconcile party differences

3. Reduce Government Size
Reduced the federal budget through careful management
Promoted laissez-faire policies in economics
Laissez-faire (let alone) economics means that they are in favor of a free market where goods and services are exchanged with little regulation (Adam Smith)
Would benefit everyone, not just the wealthy
Decreased the size of government departments
Reduced the size of the armed forces
Asked Congress to repeal (get ride of) the whiskey tax
Let the Alien and Sedition Acts expire

4. Reconcile Party Differences – Kept these Federalist Ideas
Bank of the United States
Continued to pay off state debts using federal taxes
Allowed many Federalists to keep their government jobs

5. Pair- Share Question
Which of these goals and policies that you wrote down might still be issues today? Why?

6. Strengthening the Supreme Court
While Republicans gained control of Congress, the Federalists remained powerful in the courts due to John Adams appointments
Chief Justice - John Marshall (Federalist)
Marshall said that while the courts were supposed to balance the powers of the President and Congress, it was not clear what powers the courts had

7. Marbury v. Madison
Summary - On the last night of his presidency John Adams appointed a judge to the Supreme Court named William Marbury. The Republicans refused to accept this judge and Thomas Jefferson ordered Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver the official papers. Marbury then sued Madison because the papers were not delivered. Because of the Judiciary Act of 1789, only the Supreme Court could decide a case brought against a federal official.

8. The Decision The Supreme Court ruled against Marbury
Does NOT become a justice
Ruled the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional
The argument was that the Constitution did not give the Supreme Court the right to decide cases brought against the Federal officials (ruling on a law)
Set an important precedent
Gave the Supreme Court the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional and to reject laws considered unconstitutional called judicial review

9. Reactions
Jefferson was upset by the decision because while they ruled against Marbury, the decision gave more power to the Supreme Court
He argued it upset the balance of power
The President and Congress accepted the Supreme Court’s right to overturn laws.

10. Venn Diagram
Complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall.