Question 51: What does the judicial branch do?
Official answers (any one counts)
USCIS accepts any of these answers. If the question asks for more than one, give as many as it asks.
- Reviews laws
- Explains laws
- Resolves disputes (disagreements) about the law
- Decides if a law goes against the (U.S.) Constitution
Grandpa explains
Courts review and explain laws and settle fights about them. Making laws is Congress's job, kiddo.
Careful: these are NOT the answer
These are the common mix-ups. The app uses them as traps so you practice.
- Makes laws
- Signs bills
- Collects taxes
On the 2008 test this is question 37
If you filed your N-400 before October 20, 2025, you take the 2008 version. Which one is mine?
What does the judicial branch do?
- reviews laws
- explains laws
- resolves disputes (disagreements)
- decides if a law goes against the Constitution
Video lesson on this topic: The Courts and the States
More questions on this topic
- 52What is the highest court in the United States? ★
- 53How many seats are on the Supreme Court?
- 54How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
- 55How long do Supreme Court justices serve?
- 56Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?
- 57Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
Official sources:
- USCIS · 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), M-1778 (09/25) ↗ · checked October 6, 2026
The plain explanation is ours; the official answers are USCIS's, word for word.