Final answer:
Coordinate branch judicial review refers to the power of the U.S. judicial branch to examine and nullify the actions of the executive and legislative branches if found unconstitutional, as established in Marbury v. Madison.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is "Coordinate Branch" Judicial Review?
Coordinate branch judicial review is the constitutional principle that actions of the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government can be reviewed, and possibly invalidated, by the judicial branch. This concept was established in the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, which effectively declared that the courts have the power to judge the constitutionality of government actions and statutes. Judicial review is a cornerstone of the system of checks and balances designed to prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful.
Despite the power this gives the judiciary, it is the branch of government that was initially considered the weakest by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper No. 78. However, its role in safeguarding individual rights and constitutional governance cannot be underestimated. Notable examples of the judiciary expanding individual rights include the Supreme Court's 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.