What is judicial review?

What is judicial review?

• A. The power of courts to enforce laws through penalties.
• B. The power of courts to interpret statutes only.
• C. The power of the Courts to declare federal or state laws or executive actions unconstitutional.
• D. The power of the President to appoint judges.

Answer: (C)

Judicial review is the court’s authority to check government actions against the Constitution. It lets courts examine laws passed by the legislative branch and actions taken by the executive branch, and strike them down if they violate the Constitution. This power creates a system of checks and balances, keeping both the federal and state governments within constitutional limits. The best description captures this ability to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional at both federal and state levels. Enforcing laws through penalties focuses on enforcement rather than constitutional review. Interpreting statutes is part of judicial work, but it doesn’t by itself address whether something is constitutional. The president’s power to appoint judges is about who sits on the bench, not about reviewing the constitutionality of laws or actions.

Judicial review is the court’s authority to check government actions against the Constitution. It lets courts examine laws passed by the legislative branch and actions taken by the executive branch, and strike them down if they violate the Constitution. This power creates a system of checks and balances, keeping both the federal and state governments within constitutional limits.

The best description captures this ability to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional at both federal and state levels. Enforcing laws through penalties focuses on enforcement rather than constitutional review. Interpreting statutes is part of judicial work, but it doesn’t by itself address whether something is constitutional. The president’s power to appoint judges is about who sits on the bench, not about reviewing the constitutionality of laws or actions.