The judicial branch primarily interprets laws, applies them to specific cases, and determines whether laws or government actions are constitutional. This means judges and courts decide the meaning of laws and how they should be enforced in real situations
. Key functions of the judicial branch with respect to laws include:
- Judicial Review: Courts have the authority to review laws passed by the legislature and determine if they violate the Constitution. If a law is found unconstitutional, the judicial branch can invalidate it, preventing its enforcement
- Resolving Legal Disputes: The judicial branch settles disputes involving laws, whether criminal or civil, by interpreting and applying the law fairly and impartially in trials and appeals
- Ensuring Constitutional Compliance: Courts ensure that laws and government actions comply with constitutional protections and principles, such as due process and individual rights
- Issuing Binding Decisions: Once courts, especially higher courts like the Supreme Court, make rulings on laws, those decisions set precedents that guide future interpretations and applications of the law
- Limited Enforcement Role: While courts decide on laws and issue rulings, they rely on the executive branch to enforce their decisions, as the judicial branch itself has limited power to enforce orders directly
In summary, the judicial branch acts as the interpreter and guardian of the law, ensuring laws conform to the Constitution and are applied justly, while resolving legal conflicts that arise under those laws
