What power allows the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional?

The power that allows the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional is known as Judicial Review. This principle emerged from the landmark case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, where the Supreme Court established its authority to review laws and determine their constitutionality. Judicial Review serves as a crucial mechanism for the system of checks and balances, allowing the judiciary to ensure that legislative and executive actions comply with the Constitution. This power reinforces the role of the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government and protects individual rights by preventing the legislative and executive branches from overstepping their constitutional boundaries.

The other options do not accurately describe this power. For instance, an Executive Order pertains to directives issued by the President and does not relate to judicial authority. Legislative Authority refers to the powers granted to Congress to make laws, which is separate from the judiciary's role in interpreting those laws. A Constitutional Challenge generally involves the act of questioning a law's adherence to the Constitution, but it is not a specific power granted to the Supreme Court like Judicial Review.