Judiciary Outline Wednesday, October 26, 2016 8:11 AM ? Introduction Only in the United States do judges play so large a role in policy-making. Judicial review: right to rule on laws and executive acts on basis of constitutionality; chief judicial weapon in system of checks and balances In Great Britain, Parliament is supreme In other countries, judicial review means little?Exceptions: Australia, Canada, West Germany, India, and a few others Debate is over how the Constitution should be interpreted Strict constructionist (interpretivist) approach: judges are bound by the wording of the Constitution Activist (legislative) approach: judges should look to the underlying principles of the Constitution Not a matter of liberal versus conservative