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The Judicial Branch

The judicial system, along with the executive and legislative systems, comprise the three branches of the U.S. government. The judicial branch is composed of federal and state courts and the judges who preside in these courts. The purpose of the judiciary is to interpret laws and make rulings on legal questions. Additionally, it determines if laws passed by legislatures, on a national, state, or local level, violate the U.S. Constitution. The courts also consider the constitutionality of the actions taken by the executive branch. This process, called judicial review, allows the judiciary to void or nullify any laws or actions that they decide are unconstitutional. In response, the legislative branch may ratify a Constitutional amendment in order to make the legislation lawful. In this way, the judicial branch plays a crucial role in the government's system of checks and balances.

The authority of the...