What does the Judicial Branch do?

• A. Enforces laws and sets budgets for agencies.
• B. Interprets laws and decides if laws have been broken or rights violated.
• C. Drafts proposed legislation for consideration.
• D. Oversees elections and political processes.

Answer: (B)

The Judicial Branch’s job is to interpret laws and determine whether they have been broken or whether rights have been violated. Courts read and apply statutes, resolve disputes between people or government entities, and decide criminal guilt or innocence in cases. They also review laws and government actions to ensure they conform to the state and federal constitutions, protecting due process and individual rights. This is different from the other branches: the Legislature makes laws, the Executive enforces them and manages budgets and agencies, and election administration is handled by designated officials and bodies outside the courts. In Kentucky, the state’s courts—and the Kentucky Supreme Court at the top—perform these interpretive and protective roles, issuing rulings that guide how laws are applied.