What significant legal principle was established in Marbury v. Madison?

The case of Marbury v. Madison, decided in 1803, established the principle of judicial review, which is the authority of the Supreme Court to examine and invalidate laws and actions of the executive and legislative branches that are inconsistent with the Constitution. This landmark decision solidified the judiciary's role as a check on the powers of the other branches of government.

Judicial review allows the courts to ensure that the law aligns with the constitutional framework and upholds the rule of law. The court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, asserted that it is "emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." This ruling has had a profound and lasting impact on the balance of power within the federal government.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different legal principles: executive privilege relates to the confidentiality of presidential communications; separation of powers describes the division of government responsibilities; and the right to privacy, while significant in various legal contexts, was not addressed in Marbury v. Madison. Thus, the establishment of judicial review is the key takeaway from this pivotal Supreme Court case.