Florida Civic Literacy Practice Exam

Who is primarily responsible for interpreting the Constitution?

1. Congress

2. The President

3. The Supreme Court

4. The Vice President

The correct answer is: The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is primarily responsible for interpreting the Constitution. This responsibility comes from the principle of judicial review, established by the landmark case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to assess whether laws or executive actions are in accordance with the Constitution. By interpreting the Constitution, the Court plays a crucial role in ensuring that the rights protected under the Constitution are upheld and that the legislative and executive branches do not exceed their authority. In this context, Congress is responsible for making laws but does not interpret the Constitution; the President enforces laws but does not hold the judicial power to interpret their constitutionality; the Vice President has a primarily ceremonial role and does not engage in constitutional interpretation. Thus, the Supreme Court’s role as the judicial branch makes it the key entity for interpreting constitutional issues.