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Judicial review

The judiciary's practice of resolving cases by applying the Constitution and controlling law, including refusing to enforce conflicting government action.

SourcesSupreme CourtLearning Resources v. TrumpCongress.govConstitution

In constitutional practice

In Learning Resources, the Court interpreted IEEPA and decided the challenged tariff program exceeded that statute.

Connected public record

Topic and question links below are editorial learning suggestions for this demo, not canonical relationships from the archived database.

Topics

Bills

No direct record in this edition.

Court cases

  • Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump

    The Court used judicial review to decide whether the executive tariff program fit the statute Congress enacted.

  • Marbury v. Madison

    Marbury is the foundational record for courts treating the Constitution as controlling over conflicting legislation.

Practice questions

  • On July 1, 2026, the Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against California challenging two gun laws. Which court received the complaint, and what case number did it receive?
  • The U.S. Department of Justice sent a demand letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta on June 24, 2026, warning of a federal lawsuit over two gun laws. California's deadline to respond was June 30, 2026, at 5 p.m.
  • Place these events in the correct chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
  • Before the Trump DOJ used 34 U.S.C. section 12601 to challenge California's gun laws, how had the federal government primarily used this statute?
  • California Assembly Bill 1127, signed October 10, 2025, bans dealer sales of any semiautomatic pistol with a specific internal feature. What is that feature?
  • Under the common use doctrine from District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), a state may ban any firearm model that criminals use more frequently than law-abiding citizens.
  • On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Wolford v. Lopez 6-3, with Justice Samuel Alito writing for the majority. The DOJ cites this ruling in its California complaint, but legal analysts note a key limitation in applying it to the Glock case. What is that limitation?
  • Harmeet Dhillon, confirmed as DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights by a 52-45 Senate vote on April 3, 2025, announced a new section of the Civil Rights Division in December 2025. What was novel about this section?
  • When the DOJ wins a section 12601 case through a negotiated resolution rather than a trial, what legal instrument typically ends the case?
  • If the federal district court in United States v. California grants the DOJ's requested statewide injunctive relief, California's AB1127 and the Handgun Roster would immediately become permanently unenforceable.
  • The Supreme Court held that IEEPA authorized the tariff program challenged in Learning Resources.
  • What is the supreme law of the land?
  • When a court interprets the boundary of a tariff statute, is it writing a replacement tariff law?
  • After one statutory basis fails in court, what must a new executive tariff action do?
  • A court's ruling on statutory authority necessarily decides whether the tariff policy is economically wise.
  • Congress may fund judicial security while remaining unable to dictate the outcome of individual cases.

SourcesSupreme CourtLearning Resources v. TrumpCongress.govConstitutionLibrary of CongressMarbury v. MadisonLibrary of CongressMarbury guide