judicial review

[ joo-dish-uhl ri-vyoo ]

noun

1. the power of a court to adjudicate the constitutionality of the laws of a government or the acts of a government official.

judicial review

1. The principle by which courts can declare acts of either the executive branch or the legislative branch unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has exercised this power, for example, to revoke state laws that denied civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution . ( See also checks and balances .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of judicial review¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

This may seem to imply that judicial review no longer serves a legitimate purpose and should be abandoned.

From The Daily Beast

According to the Quran, the highest political authorities are subject to judicial review.

From The Daily Beast

We simply do not need judicial review to safeguard the separation of powers.

From The Daily Beast

But more than 200 years later, the disruptive potential of judicial review remained on full display.

From The Daily Beast

There has always been a debate over the appropriateness of judicial review.

From The Daily Beast

This decision greatly strengthened the theory of judicial review of national legislation.

From Project Gutenberg

Suspension of orders pending judicial review, still remained.

From Project Gutenberg

There could be little doubt about the necessity of judicial review of law findings of the Commission.

From Project Gutenberg

His aim has been to pass in judicial review the thoughts and imaginations of mankind concerning the destiny of the human soul.

From Project Gutenberg

With Smyth v. Ames the doctrine of judicial review may be regarded as fully established.

From Project Gutenberg