Final answer:
Judicial review gives the judiciary the power to invalidate the actions of other institutions whenever it believes they have acted unconstitutionally. It is key to maintaining the judiciary's role as an independent branch of the national government. This authority does not give judges the power to make political decisions, decide which laws apply, ignore public opinion, or strike down sections of the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The judiciary's status as an independent branch of national government largely depends on judicial review. This refers to the authority of the judiciary to invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges find them to have acted unconstitutionally (option d). Judicial review, established by the Supreme Court in the case Marbury v. Madison, provides a critical means of checks and balances in the U.S. governmental system. It holds that if a law or government action does not align with the U.S. Constitution, it is seen as unconstitutional and therefore void.
It is important to note that judicial review does not enable judges to make or influence political decisions based on personal preference (option a), but rather it requires interpretation and implementation of the Constitution itself. In contrast to option b, judges do not decide which laws apply in a particular case rather, they determine whether the laws being applied are constitutional. Regarding option c, while judges may choose to ignore public opinion in their decision-making, it's not the primary function of judicial review. Judges don't have the power to strike down certain sections of the Constitution (option e), however, they interpret the constitutionality of laws and government actions.
Learn more about Judicial Review