Which doctrine holds that certain issues are non-justiciable because they are political in nature?

Which doctrine holds that certain issues are non-justiciable because they are political in nature?

• A. Advisory opinions
• B. Mootness
• C. Standing
• D. Political questions

Answer: (D)

The Political Question Doctrine. This idea says courts will not decide certain disputes because resolving them would require policy choices that belong to the legislative or executive branches, or because the issue is inherently political and lacks judicially manageable standards. The doctrine rests on separation of powers: if the Constitution directs a matter to another branch or if the courts cannot craft a workable standard to resolve it without overstepping into political territory, the case is non-justiciable. That’s why issues like certain redistricting or war-power questions are treated as political questions and kept out of the courts. In contrast, advisory opinions are about giving non-binding guidance, mootness concerns whether a live controversy remains, and standing requires showing injury in fact; none of these says the issue is non-justiciable due to its political nature.

The Political Question Doctrine. This idea says courts will not decide certain disputes because resolving them would require policy choices that belong to the legislative or executive branches, or because the issue is inherently political and lacks judicially manageable standards. The doctrine rests on separation of powers: if the Constitution directs a matter to another branch or if the courts cannot craft a workable standard to resolve it without overstepping into political territory, the case is non-justiciable. That’s why issues like certain redistricting or war-power questions are treated as political questions and kept out of the courts. In contrast, advisory opinions are about giving non-binding guidance, mootness concerns whether a live controversy remains, and standing requires showing injury in fact; none of these says the issue is non-justiciable due to its political nature.