What does judicial review empower the courts to determine?

Judicial review is a fundamental principle in constitutional law that grants courts the authority to examine laws and governmental actions to determine their validity. This process involves assessing whether a law aligns with the constitution, ensuring that legislative actions do not overstep constitutional boundaries or violate individual rights protected under the law.

When courts engage in judicial review, they analyze statutes and regulations to decide if they conform to constitutional standards. If a law is found to be inconsistent with the constitution, the court has the power to strike it down. This crucial check on legislative power preserves the rule of law and protects individual rights, maintaining the balance of power between the legislative and judicial branches.

The other choices relate to different aspects of governance but do not accurately define the primary function of judicial review. For instance, while the legitimacy of elections or the constancy of political parties can raise important legal questions, they do not fall directly within the scope of what judicial review specifically empowers courts to determine in the context of evaluating the validity of laws. Similarly, the processes of law creation might involve various procedural standards, but judicial review's focus is on the laws themselves and their constitutionality, not the creation process.