Who is responsible for ensuring that government actions comply with the Constitution?

The responsibility for ensuring that government actions comply with the Constitution primarily falls to judges in federal courts. This role is grounded in the judicial branch of government, which interprets laws and resolves disputes, including those concerning constitutional issues. Judges assess whether laws and government actions adhere to constitutional principles, making them crucial in protecting individual rights and upholding the rule of law.

Judicial review, established through landmark cases such as Marbury v. Madison, grants courts the authority to invalidate laws and actions that conflict with the Constitution. This power is essential for maintaining a system of checks and balances, ensuring that neither the legislative nor the executive branches exceed their constitutional authority. In contrast, legislators are responsible for creating laws, the president implements those laws, and state governments operate within their own jurisdictions, but it is the federal judges who have the ultimate duty to interpret and apply the Constitution in legal matters.