Judicial branch
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Civics
Definition
The branch that reviews and explains laws: the Supreme Court and federal courts.
Judicial branch in plain English
When Congress makes a law, someone still has to decide what it actually means and whether it's fair — that's the judicial branch's job. It's the system of federal courts, topped by the Supreme Court, that settles disputes and can strike down a law if it clashes with the Constitution. Think of them as the referees in a game: they don't write the rules or run the plays, but they interpret the rulebook and make the final call when people disagree. This is one of the three branches of government, and it acts as a check so no single power gets to do whatever it wants.
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