Judicial Review

[Page 424]Judicial review is the power of a court to examine the actions of the executive and legislative branches. More precisely, judicial review is the authority of a court to declare an act of Congress (state legislature) or the president (governor) null and void and in violation of the Constitution. In the American system of checks and balances, it is the most important check that the courts have over the other branches of government. The power does not have to be exercised to be consequential. The fact that the courts have the power of judicial review often means that legislatures will not pass flawed or constitutionally suspect laws.