The U.S. judicial system is more than a referee for private disputes. Courts also shape how the three branches of government balance power, and they set limits on what officials can and cannot do. Understanding these relationships explains why the judiciary matters to every citizen.
These checks and balances are not abstract—they affect how laws are enforced, how leaders are held accountable, and how individual liberties and rights are protected. The judiciary can play a central role in ensuring no one is above the law and that the rules of democracy apply fairly to all, regardless of whether you lean right, left, or center. We summarize some of the ways this can be done, starting with judicial overview.
Reviewing the Other Branches
One of the judiciary’s most important roles is judicial review—the power to decide whether laws or executive actions violate the Constitution. This authority was outlined in Federalist 78 and affirmed in Marbury v. Madison (1803) and has been central ever since.
- It means the federal courts including the Supreme Court, can strike down acts of Congress and presidential orders that overstep constitutional boundaries.
- State laws that may be in conflict with the federal Constitution can also be struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States or the state’s own supreme court. If a ruling by a state supreme court involves a disputed provision in the federal Constitution and that ruling is appealed, the appeal, if granted, will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States.
We will address judicial independence next week.
