The (legislative/executive/judicial) branch of government effects policy through interpretation of the law.

• A. Legislative
• B. Administrative
• C. Judicial
• D. Executive

Answer: (C)

Judicial interpretation of laws shapes policy by resolving what statutes mean and how they apply in real cases. The judiciary’s role is to interpret statutes and the Constitution, decide disputes about rights and duties, and assess whether laws or agency actions are constitutional. Through these decisions, courts set precedents and clarify the scope of laws, which directs how agencies implement and enforce policies. Legislators write the laws, the executive enforces them, and agencies translate them into rules; but policy outcomes often hinge on court rulings that define permissible interpretations and required actions. For example, a court’s rulings can expand or limit the reach of health or environmental regulations by interpreting statutory language and constitutional limits.