The Two Eras that Made the Supreme Court the most Influential

The Marshall Court and the Rehnquist Court are the two eras that made the Supreme Court the most influential. The Marshall Court in 1801 to 1835 helped create the foundation for the United States constitutional law, which contributing to making the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government. The Rehnquist Court in 1986 to 2005 favored a concept of federalism that played a vital role on the Tenth Amendment’s reservation of powers to the states. Under Rehnquist point of view of federalism, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down an act of congress as overpowering under the commerce clause. These two courts brought the Supreme Court of the United States to an entire new level that brought change to the world.

The Marshall Court started in 1801. John Marshall was the fourth longest lasting Chief Justice of the United States. Marshall dominated the Court, and which played a significant role in the development of the American legal system. He brought back to the courts the notion that federal courts were able to use judicial review, only if they violated the Constitution. Thusly, John Marshall believed that the position of the American judiciary was a vital and significant branch of government. Furthermore, John Marshall's court made several important decisions in response to federalism, the power between federal government and state government. In particular, he repeatedly established and shared the authority of federal law over state law. Marshall supported the understanding and interpretation of the enumerated powers. President John Adams appointed John Marshall to the United States Supreme Court in 1798. John Marshall was also elected into the United States House of Representatives in 1799. In 180...

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...s reservation of powers to the states. Under his view of federalism, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down an Act of Congress as surpassing its power under the Commerce Clause. President Ronald Reagan nominated Rehnquist to fill the position of Chief Justice. His colleagues were pleased and supportive. Justice Thurgood Marshall called him "a great Chief Justice”. Rehnquist's seat as an associate justice was filled by newly appointed Antonin Scalia.

Works Cited

McBride, Alex. “Barron v. Baltimore (1833)”. December 2006. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_barron.html McBride, Alex. “McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)”. December 2006. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_mcculloch.html Edwards III, C. George, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Linberry. “Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy”. Textbook.