马伯里诉麦迪逊案英文版.docx

马伯里诉麦迪逊案英文版.docx

《马伯里诉麦迪逊案英文版.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《马伯里诉麦迪逊案英文版.docx（5页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

马伯里诉麦迪逊案英文版

马伯里诉麦迪逊案（英文版）

WILLIAMMARBURYv.JAMESMADISON

SUPREMECOURTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

FEBRUARY,1803Term

ChiefJusticeMarshalldeliveredtheopinionofthecourt.

Intheorderinwhichthecourthasviewedthissubject,thefollowingquestionshavebeenconsideredanddecided:

1st.Hastheapplicantarighttothecommissionhedemands?

2dly.Ifhehasaright,andthatrighthasbeenviolated,dothelawsofhiscountryaffordhimaremedy?

3dly.Iftheydoaffordhimaremedy,isitamandamusissuingfromthiscourt?

Thefirstobjectofenquiryis:

Hastheapplicantarighttothecommissionhedemands?

HisrightoriginatesinanactofcongresspassedinFebruary,1801,concerningthedistrictofColumbia.Thislawenacts,"thatthereshallbeappointedinandforeachofthesaidcounties,suchnumberofdiscreetpersonstobejusticesofthepeaceasthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesshall,fromtimetotime,thinkexpedient,tocontinueinofficeforfiveyears."

Itappears,fromtheaffidavits,thatincompliancewiththislaw,acommissionforWilliamMarburyasajusticeofpeaceforthecountyofWashington,wassignedbyJohnAdams,thenpresidentoftheUnitedStates;afterwhichthesealoftheUnitedStateswasaffixedtoit;butthecommissionhasneverreachedthepersonforwhomitwasmadeout.

Inordertodeterminewhetherheisentitledtothiscommission,itbecomesnecessarytoenquirewhetherhehasbeenappointedtotheoffice.Forifhehasbeenappointed,thelawcontinueshiminofficeforfiveyears....

…

Mr.Marbury,then,sincehiscommissionwassignedbythePresident,andsealedbythesecretaryofstate,wasappointed;andasthelawcreatingtheoffice,gavetheofficerarighttoholdforfiveyears,independentoftheexecutive,theappointmentwasnotrevocable;butvestedintheofficerlegalrights,whichareprotectedbythelawsofhiscountry.

Towithholdhiscommission,therefore,isanactdeemedbythecourtnotwarrantedbylaw,butviolativeofavestedlegalright.

Thisbringsustothesecondenquiry;whichis,2dly.Ifhehasaright,andthatrighthasbeenviolated,dothelawsofhiscountryaffordhimaremedy?

Theveryessenceofcivillibertycertainlyconsistsintherightofeveryindividualtoclaimtheprotectionofthelaws,wheneverhereceivesaninjury.Oneofthefirstdutiesofgovernmentistoaffordthatprotection.ThegovernmentoftheUnitedStateshasbeenemphaticallytermedagovernmentoflaws,andnotofmen.Itwillcertainlyceasetodeservethishighappellation,ifthelawsfurnishnoremedyfortheviolationofavestedlegalright.

…

1

Itisthentheopinionofthecourt:

1st.ThatbysigningthecommissionofMr.Marbury,thepresidentoftheUnitedStatesappointedhimajusticeofpeace,forthecountyofWashingtoninthedistrictofColumbia;...2dly.That,havingthislegaltitletotheoffice,hehasaconsequentrighttothecommission;arefusaltodeliverwhich,isaplainviolationofthatright,forwhichthelawsofhiscountryaffordhimaremedy.

Itremainstobeenquiredwhether,3dly.Heisentitledtotheremedyforwhichheapplies.Thisdependson,1st.Thenatureofthewritappliedfor,and,2dly.Thepowerofthiscourt.

1st.Thenatureofthewrit.

[Courtdeterminesthathavingdeterminedthatthecommissionhadreachedapointbeyondthediscretionofthepresidentandtothepointwherethesecretaryofstatehadtoobeythelaw.Therefore,theremedyofawritofmandamusisavailable.]

…

2d.Thepowerofthiscourt

This,then,isaplaincaseforamandamus,eithertodeliverthecommission,oracopyofitfromtherecord;anditonlyremainstobeenquired,whetheritcanissuefromthiscourt.

TheacttoestablishthejudicialcourtsoftheUnitedStatesauthorizesthesupremecourt"toissuewritsofmandamus,incaseswarrantedbytheprinciplesandusagesoflaw,toanycourtsappointed,orpersonsholdingoffice,undertheauthorityoftheUnitedStates."

Thesecretaryofstate,beingapersonholdinganofficeundertheauthorityoftheUnitedStates,ispreciselywithintheletterofthedescription;andifthiscourtisnotauthorizedtoissueawritofmandamustosuchanofficer,itmustbebecausethelawisunconstitutional,andthereforeabsolutelyincapableofconferringtheauthority,andassigningthedutieswhichitswordspurporttoconferandassign.

TheconstitutionveststhewholejudicialpoweroftheUnitedStatesinonesupremecourt,andsuchinferiorcourtsascongressshall,fromtimetotime,ordainandestablish.ThispowerisexpresslyextendedtoallcasesarisingunderthelawsoftheUnitedStates;andconsequently,insomeform,maybeexercisedoverthepresentcase;becausetherightclaimedisgivenbyalawoftheUnitedStates.

Inthedistributionofthispoweritisdeclaredthat"the