What powers does the judiciary have in a constitutional system?

• A. The judiciary drafts and passes laws.
• B. The judiciary interprets laws, reviews for constitutionality, and may strike down laws or executive actions that violate the Constitution.
• C. The judiciary enforces laws on the streets.
• D. The judiciary appoints the president.

Answer: (B)

In a constitutional system, the judiciary’s power centers on interpreting laws and ensuring they align with the Constitution, acting as a check on the other branches. Courts review statutes and executive actions to see if they violate constitutional guarantees, and they can strike them down or require changes to uphold constitutional rights. This capacity, often called judicial review, keeps laws and government actions within the fundamental rules that constrain power.

This role contrasts with other functions: drafting and passing laws is the job of the legislature; enforcing laws on the streets is carried out by the police and executive agencies; appointing the president is a political process typically managed by elections or legislative bodies. So the judiciary’s distinct contribution is interpreting and safeguarding the Constitution, and using that authority to invalidate laws or actions that overstep constitutional boundaries.