Judicial Review
A process under which executive or legislative actions are subject to review by the judiciary
Real World Example
During the early years of the United States, around 1785-1805, the concept of judicial review was established to ensure that laws and actions by the government did not violate the Constitution. This became especially important in 1803 with the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison, which confirmed the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution. Judicial review responded to the need for checks and balances within the government, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. Today, judicial review still matters because it ensures that laws and government actions align with constitutional principles, protecting citizens' rights. For example, if a new law was passed that limited freedom of speech, judicial review could be used to challenge and potentially overturn it, safeguarding this fundamental right for everyone.
