In the landmark cases of Marbury v. Madison (1803) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court addressed fundamental constitutional principles related to the judiciary and civil rights.

In Marbury v. Madison, the Court established the principle of judicial review, granting the courts the authority to invalidate laws that are contrary to the Constitution. Conversely, Brown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, effectively overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

Compare and contrast the constitutional principles at play in both of these cases. In your response, discuss how these rulings reflect the role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution and the impact these decisions have had on American society.