The Third and Final Branch
As we’ve been learning, the U.S. government is divided into three branches. In this lesson, we will examine the third and final branch, the Judicial Branch.
The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch acts as an additional “check” on our laws. It is the body that ensures that our laws themselves are constitutional, or allowed according to our constitution.
| The Judicial Branch | |
| Role | Interprets the laws and ensures they align with the Constitution |
| Body | The Federal Court System, headed by the Supreme Court |
| Key Offices | The Supreme Court Consisting of 9 justices Lower Courts U.S. Court of Appeals U.S. District courts |
| Summary of Powers | The Judicial Branch reviews laws, executive actions, and lower court rulings to determine if they are constitutional (a process called judicial review). It can strike down laws or executive actions that violate the Constitution. |