Political Institutions Constitutional Law Questions
The concept of judicial restraint in constitutional law refers to the approach taken by judges in interpreting and applying the Constitution. It emphasizes a limited role for the judiciary, where judges exercise self-restraint and defer to the decisions of elected officials and the democratic process. Judicial restraint involves a reluctance to strike down laws or interfere with the actions of the other branches of government, unless they clearly violate the Constitution. This approach is based on the belief that the elected representatives of the people should have the primary responsibility for making and implementing public policy, and that the judiciary should only intervene when absolutely necessary to protect individual rights or prevent a clear constitutional violation.