The Judicial Branch is really important when it comes to understanding the Constitution. Here’s how it works:
Judicial Review: This is a well-known power of the Supreme Court. It was established in the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. This power lets the Supreme Court cancel laws or actions from the government if they believe those actions go against the Constitution. So, if Congress makes a law that doesn't follow the Constitution, the Court can strike it down. This keeps a check on what Congress can do.
Case Law: The courts also help interpret the Constitution by making decisions on specific cases. When the court makes a ruling, it sets a standard for how similar laws should be handled in the future. For example, in the famous case Brown v. Board of Education, the Court changed civil rights laws by interpreting the Equal Protection Clause in a new way.
Constitutional Interpretation: Judges can have different ways of looking at the Constitution. Some might focus on what the Constitution meant when it was written (this is called originalism). Others might think the Constitution should be adapted to fit modern times (this is called a living Constitution approach). These different views can lead to different decisions in similar cases.
Overall, these methods show that the Judicial Branch doesn’t just follow the law; it plays an active role in deciding how laws affect American life. It's both interesting and important!
The Judicial Branch is really important when it comes to understanding the Constitution. Here’s how it works:
Judicial Review: This is a well-known power of the Supreme Court. It was established in the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. This power lets the Supreme Court cancel laws or actions from the government if they believe those actions go against the Constitution. So, if Congress makes a law that doesn't follow the Constitution, the Court can strike it down. This keeps a check on what Congress can do.
Case Law: The courts also help interpret the Constitution by making decisions on specific cases. When the court makes a ruling, it sets a standard for how similar laws should be handled in the future. For example, in the famous case Brown v. Board of Education, the Court changed civil rights laws by interpreting the Equal Protection Clause in a new way.
Constitutional Interpretation: Judges can have different ways of looking at the Constitution. Some might focus on what the Constitution meant when it was written (this is called originalism). Others might think the Constitution should be adapted to fit modern times (this is called a living Constitution approach). These different views can lead to different decisions in similar cases.
Overall, these methods show that the Judicial Branch doesn’t just follow the law; it plays an active role in deciding how laws affect American life. It's both interesting and important!