Answer: The United States Constitution
Step-by-step explanation:
The judicial branch of the United States government is comprised of a system of federal courts and is responsible for interpreting and applying the laws of the U.S. Constitution. The judicial branch is established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution and is headed by the Supreme Court of the United States, which is the highest court in the country. The other federal courts in the judicial branch include the United States Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, and Specialized Courts such as the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The judicial branch is an independent branch of government that is intended to serve as a check on the other two branches, the executive and legislative.
One of the most important powers of the judicial branch is judicial review. This is the power of the courts to review the constitutionality of laws and governmental actions, and to invalidate those laws and actions if they conflict with the constitution. This power was established in the landmark Supreme Court decision, Marbury v. Madison, in 1803. Judicial review is important in maintaining a government of laws, not of men, as the judiciary ensures that all laws passed by the legislature and actions taken by the executive are consistent with the constitutional framework. This helps protect the rights and liberties of the people, as well as preventing the government from overstepping its authority.