What does the judicial branch do?

On the 2008 test

The 2008 test asks this as Question 37, in the same words.

Answers listed for the 2008 question (4), next to the 4 above. Compare them before you study from an older list.

• reviews laws
• explains laws
• resolves disputes (disagreements)
• decides if a law goes against the Constitution

Background

The judicial branch reviews and explains laws, resolves disputes, and decides whether laws violate the Constitution. Judicial review - striking down unconstitutional laws - is the courts' most powerful check on the other branches.

From this site's page for 2008 Question 37.

The 65/20 special consideration

Question 51 is not one of the 20 asterisked questions, so an applicant who qualifies for the 65/20 special consideration would not be asked it. Everyone else studies all 128.

Answers that get mixed up with this one

These are the wrong options the 2025 practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different 2025 question.

• It says America is free from British control.answers Question 8: Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
• So one part does not become too powerfulanswers Question 15: There are three branches of government. Why?
• Voteanswers Question 69: What are two examples of civic participation in the United States?

More System of Government questions

• Question 48: What are two Cabinet-level positions?Attorney General · Secretary of Agriculture · Secretary of Commerce · Secretary of Education · Secretary of Energy · Secretary of Health and Human Services · Secretary of Homeland Security · Secretary of Housing and Urban Development · Secretary of the Interior · Secretary of Labor · Secretary of State · Secretary of Transportation · Secretary of the Treasury · Secretary of Veterans Affairs · Secretary of War (Defense) · Vice-President · Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency · Administrator of the Small Business Administration · Director of the Central Intelligence Agency · Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Director of National Intelligence · United States Trade Representative
• Question 49: Why is the Electoral College important?It decides who is elected president. · It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.
• Question 50: What is one part of the judicial branch?Supreme Court · Federal Courts
• Question 52: What is the highest court in the United States?Supreme Court
• Question 53: How many seats are on the Supreme Court?Nine (9)