Judicial Review: Why Courts Can Say “No” to the Government

Judicial Review Is The Power Of The Courts, Especially The U.S. Supreme Court, To Decide Whether Laws Or Government Actions Follow The Constitution. This Power Matters Because It Prevents Any Branch Of Government From Going Beyond What The Constitution Allows And Protects People’s Rights When The Government Oversteps. A Recent Example Of Judicial Review Appeared In Cases Involving State Laws That Tried To Regulate How Social Media Companies Moderate Online Content. Some States Passed Laws Limiting How Platforms Like Tiktok, Instagram, Or X Could Remove Posts, While Others Pushed For Stricter Controls. When These Laws Were Challenged, The Supreme Court Stepped Into Determine Whether They Violated The First Amendment’s Free Speech Protections. The Court’s Involvement Shows How Judicial Review Works In Real Life: Even When Elected Officials Pass Laws, Those Laws Still Have To Follow The Constitution. This Makes Judicial Review Highly Relevant Today Because So Many Issues Social Media, Privacy, Policing, Elections Depend On Constitutional Rules, And The Courts Play A Crucial Role In Deciding What The Government Can And Cannot Do.