Discuss the relevant aspects of John Marshall's life.

John Marshall is considered by many to be the master
builder of the Supreme Court.  The nation's fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
and longest serving Chief Justice, Marshall is credited with bolstering the function and
role of the Supreme Court in the many decisions and writings he offered on the subject. 
Of these, the most important would have to be Marshall's decision in the case
of Marbury v. Madison. The case centered on which branch has the
power to declare acts of Congress and actions of the Executive as unconstitutional. 
Marshall wrote that only the Supreme Court can determine constitutionality, providing it
with the ultimate check on the other two branches.  Marshall believed that federal
courts, and in particular the Supreme Court, held more power than local or state
courts.  In this light, Marshall was seen as one of the most vocal advocates for the
powers of the Judicial Branch, certainly one of the passionate of the branch at the
time.  Marshall's greatest relevancy would be his zeal for the court and the
articulation of its power to declare laws and actions unconstitutional, something that
has defined the court since Marshall's time.