Political vocabulary & government processes · Article 17 of 20 · United States
Judicial review
Courts examining the legality of government action.
What the term means
Judicial review allows courts, in properly presented cases, to decide whether laws or government actions comply with higher law, including the Constitution. Courts do not act as general policy supervisors.
How it works in practice
Jurisdiction, standing, timing and remedies matter. A court may dismiss a dispute without deciding the policy’s merits, or issue a narrow ruling rather than invalidating an entire program.
A concrete example
A business challenging an agency rule may argue that the agency exceeded its statutory authority. The outcome depends on the law, record and legal issues before the court.
What to examine next
Distinguish a preliminary order, an appellate ruling and a final judgment; their practical effects can differ.
Next: Due process.