the famous rotation from alexander beckel -- bickel. "the least dangerous branch." congress was created nearly full blown by the constitution itself. the vast possibilities of the presidency were relatively easy to perceive -- i'm not so sure about that -- and the great chief justice, john marshall, not say go handed, but first and foremost, was there to do it ended. if any social process can be said to have been done at a given time and by a given act it is marshall's achievement. the time was 18 and three, and the act was the decision in the case of marbury versus madison. i think that there are marbury's skeptics, the way i am, but let me try to brief you. it's very simple. it will be madisonian. one of madison's key proposals -- in addition to state laws and representation, he is following an example from the virginia state constitution and having a joint executive council that would present a limited negative, a limited vo, over legislation. what did medicine like this idea? -- why did madison like this idea? he had been involved in activities of collective del