Judicial Review

Judicial review

Power of courts to review statutes and governmental actions

Constitution

Supreme law dictating nature, functions, and limits of government

Invalid

Actions by government that violate principles of the constitution

Supreme Court

Most important exercise of judicial review in the United States

Invalidate

Power of the Supreme Court to declare laws as conflicting with the Constitution

Refrain

Ordering officials to not behave unconstitutionally

Checks and Balances

Political system established by the U.S. Constitution

Legally supreme

Result if the courts did not possess the power of judicial review

Fundamental protections

Included in the Constitution, such as freedom of speech

Minority

Protected from laws created by a slim majority

Supermajority

Two-thirds of each house of Congress plus ratification by three-fourths of the states

Modify the Constitution

Requires a supermajority

State courts

Power to review state government actions for compatibility