Why can lower courts in the United States decide constitutional questions?

In the United States, all lower courts are empowered to decide constitutional questions because every judge is legally obligated to determine the validity of a statute or executive action when it arises in the course of deciding a case before them. This authority is a fundamental component of the U.S. system of judicial review, which was established by the Supreme Court’s decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803).123

Because the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, courts must interpret and apply it when a conflict arises between the Constitution and other laws or actions. When a constitutional question is raised in a lower court, that court is required to address it to resolve the specific controversy at hand.13

While lower courts possess this power, their decisions are not final; they are subject to appellate review. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court serves as the final arbiter for challenges involving the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that constitutional interpretation remains consistent across the federal and state judicial systems.14