At the end of his presidential term, John Adams makes a series of judicial appointments. A certain William Marbury is to be Justice of the Peace for the District of Columbia. Under the Thomas Jefferson administration, however, Secretary of State James Madison never grants Marbury his commission. The dispute between Marbury and Madison goes to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall decides against Marbury’s case, but, in doing so, establishes a key principle of American government: that the Supreme Court provides the last word on the Constitution’s meaning.