The Supreme Court can strike down laws that are what?

• A. Unjustified in restricting rights
• B. Completely unconstitutional but not related to rights
• C. Not properly codified
• D. Based on international law only

Answer: (A)

Judicial review centers on protecting the rights guaranteed by the constitution. The Supreme Court can strike down a law when it unjustifiably restricts those rights, because such restrictions violate the constitutional protections that set the limits on government power. This is the direct way the court ensures laws are compatible with fundamental liberties like freedom of speech, equality, due process, and privacy.

Other options miss that focus. A law being completely unconstitutional but not about rights would still usually involve rights or constitutional provisions, so the core issue is whether it infringes protected liberties. Not properly codified relates to how a law is written, not whether it violates constitutional rights. Relying on international law alone depends on whether such law is binding domestically and does not automatically override constitutional standards. The key, then, is whether the law unjustifiably restricts rights in a way the constitution prohibits.