The courts act as the third branch of the government, checking the power of the executive and the legislature. The power of judicial review allows the courts to ensure the executive and legislative branches of government are not overstepping their constitutional authority. The use of judicial review has played an integral role in America’s history, particularly through well-known cases like Brown v. Board of Education, where racial segregation by the government was deemed unconstitutional. How did the judiciary, often described as the weakest branch of government, gain such a powerful check on the other two branches? What does judicial review do, and why does it matter?

For citizens to make informed decisions about who to vote for or what policies they prefer, they need good information about politics and public policy. In contemporary America, mass media is one of the prime sources of this information. Even so, most media organizations are for-profit companies, subject to the same regulations as other businesses. Broadcast media companies also use a scarce resource, the radio spectrum they use to transmit their radio or television signal. Can the government regulate the media without influencing coverage?

Due process is a citizen’s right to be treated fairly by the government. What does “fairness” mean when an individual faces the government, either in a court case or an administrative action? What ensures that governments respect due process?