judicial branch

The judiciary is the branch of government responsible for the authoritative adjudication of controversies over the application of laws in specific situations. Its primary function is to maintain peace by providing an impartial authority to judge crimes and settle private disputes, preventing vigilantism and anarchy.12

Judiciaries handle civil cases (disputes over financial or personal harm, often resulting in compensation), criminal cases (offenses against the state), and administrative cases (disputes between individuals and government agencies). In federal systems like the United States, there are separate state and federal judicial systems, with the Supreme Court of the United States at the apex, hearing appeals from lower federal courts and state courts on federal questions.13

Courts also possess the power of judicial review, allowing them to examine government actions and declare them unconstitutional if they conflict with the constitution. The organization and size of courts, like the U.S. Supreme Court, are often established by legislative bodies.45