Under chief justice marshall, a decision was issued on the famous case of __________, where the court asserted its authority to overrule acts of congress—and decisions by the executive—that run counter to the constitution.

Under Chief Justice John Marshall, a decision was issued in the famous case of Marbury v. Madison (1803). In this landmark case, the Supreme Court of the United States asserted its authority of judicial review—the power to review and potentially invalidate laws or actions of the executive branch that are deemed unconstitutional. While the case itself involved a dispute over a political appointment, the key principle established was the Court's power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.

In Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice Marshall articulated the idea that it is the duty of the judiciary to interpret the Constitution and to ensure that the laws align with its provisions. The decision asserted the Supreme Court's authority to review the constitutionality of laws and, if necessary, to declare them void.

The famous phrase associated with the case is that "it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." This decision solidified the role of the judiciary as a check on the constitutionality of government actions and laws, setting an enduring precedent for the principle of judicial review in the United States.