The Constitution
judicial review
Courts' power to strike down laws and executive acts that violate the Constitution, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803).
In full
No clause says courts may void statutes. Marbury reasoned it from the judicial duty to decide cases under a written supreme Constitution: where a statute and the Constitution conflict, courts must apply the Constitution. Every federal court exercises it; the Supreme Court merely has the last word. Its counter-majoritarian nature is why appointments fights burn so hot.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.