judicial review

American  

[joo-dish-uhl ri-vyoo] / dʒuˈdɪʃ əl rɪˈvyu /

noun

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

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judicial review Cultural  

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.)

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Etymology

Origin of judicial review

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

The states also said Nexstar and Tegna’s decision to close the deal despite multiple pending lawsuits raises concerns that the companies may be looking to rush the transaction to bypass effective judicial review.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The ruling by Mr Justice Chamberlain rejected UGLE's application for judicial review of the Met's decision to class Freemasonry as a declarable association.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

The statute clarified standards governing control, conflicts, and judicial review going forward, reinforcing objective anchors in fiduciary analysis, and reducing uncertainty about substantive liability.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

The questions largely avoided normative judgments altogether, focusing instead more narrowly on doctrine, statutory structure, and the limits of judicial review.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

But in 1790 the Supreme Court was a woefully weak third branch of the federal government and the principle of judicial review had yet to be established.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis