Question

Apush dbq with respect to the federal constitution, the jeffersonian republicans are usually characterized as strict constructionists who were opposed to the broad constructionism of the federalists. to what extent was this characterization of the two parties accurate during the presidencies of jefferson and madison?

Answer 1

This tone of strict construction of the Constitution was fairly consistent with the interpretation of the Constitution. A primary example of this would be the case Marbury v. Madison, in which the Supreme Court gave itself the right to Judicial Review. This mean that instead of giving the Federal Government a wide and vague range of power, the Supreme Court would act as a check and balance to that power.