Ewart: Constitution Day – What Constitution?
The ink was barely dry on the constitution when efforts began to change it. Not all were in agreement with its original content and thought it could be improved. Alexander Hamilton wanted more power in the central government. Most others wanted the lions share of the power to rest with the states and the people.
Judicial tests of the constitution started almost immediately. In 1801 a celebrated case was brought to the U. S. Supreme Court in Maybury vs. Madison and was the first time the Supreme Court declared something unconstitutional. The court established the concept of judicial review in the U.S. (the idea that courts may oversee and nullify the actions of another branch of government).







