1. JUDICIAL POWERA. MEANING OF JUDICIAL POWER; JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSYBELGICA GR NO. 208566 (2013) Jurisprudence provides that an actual case or controversy is one which "involves a conflict of legal rights, an assertion of opposite legal claims, susceptible of judicial resolution as distinguished from a hypothetical or abstract difference or dispute. In other words, "there must be a contrariety of legal rights that can be interpreted and enforced on the basis of existing law and jurisprudence."FRANCISCO GR NO 160261 (2003) Judicial power includes the dutyof the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, andto determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government.ANGARA 63 PHIL 139, 158 (1936) The Assembly also exercises the judicial power of trying impeachments. And the judiciary in turn, with the Supreme Court as the final arbiter, effectively checks the other departments in the exercise of its power to determine the law, and hence to declare executive and legislative acts void if violative of the Constitution.TOLENTINO GR L-34150 (1971)JAVELLANA GR NO L-36142OCAMPO 15 PHIL 626 (1910) JUDICIAL SELF RESTRAINT

B. POLITICAL QUESTIONLANSANG GR NO L-33964 (1971)VINUYA GR NO 162230 (2010)MAMBA GR NO 165109 (2009)FORTUN GR NO 190293 (2012)

2. COURTS AND JUDGES; DEFINITIONSA. COURT OF LAW AND COURT OF EQUITY DISTINGUISHED