Introduction to Constitutional Law

Marbury v Madison (1803) - United States Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall said that those who draft written constitutions intend them to be the fundamental law of the state. This means that they have special legal status. 'an act of the legislature repugnant to the constitution is void' - this is not expressly written in the Constitution of the United States.

McCawley v The King (1920) - the development of the constitutional law of the United Kingdom is largely based on historical development with no special legal status. Lord Birkenhead observed that the constitutions of some countries contain clauses requiring…