Judicial Review and Policy Making

Court decisions can have a very strong influence on current and future laws, policies, and practices.

Judicial review is the doctrine where legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary.

Judicial activism is based on personal/political considerations and judicial restraint encourages judges to limit their power.

The Constitution does not grant the Supreme Court the power of judicial review but the power to overturn laws and executive actions.

The Rehnquist Court favored federalism and social liberalism, while the Roberts Court was considered more conservative.