The liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States—including freedom of speech, freedom of association, the free exercise of religion, and the guarantees of due process and equal protection under law—are designed to ensure to each individual the ability to pursue his or her own interests free from improper interference by the government. Since the government in a democracy is directed by the preferences of the majority, another way of describing the function of the entrenched liberty protections in the Constitution is to say that they protect the minority against the abuse of political power by the majority. The Constitution’s liberty guarantees are enforced by the federal courts through the exercise of the power of judicial review. In exercising this power, the federal courts therefore perform an essential role in securing the liberties that are fundamental to the democratic political tradition. If it is true that even a majority vote cannot justify the legitimacy of legislation inconsistent with respect for these liberties, then the exercise of the power of judicial review to enforce constitutionally protected rights is essential to ensure that the power of the majority is exercised legitimately.