Concept and Importance of Judicial Review

Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to review statutes and government actions to determine whether they conform to rules and principles laid down in the Constitution and can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. It is based on the idea that the Constitution is the supreme law. Actions by the government that violate Constitutional principles are invalid. Without judicial review, there would be an entirely different political system. Also, without judicial review, the legislative branch would be supreme and fundamental protections in the Constitution would be ineffective.