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Simple English definitions for legal terms
minimal scrutiny
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A quick definition of minimal scrutiny:
Minimal Scrutiny: A way for judges to look at a law and decide if it is okay or not. This is used when the law doesn't involve really important rights or groups of people. If the law is related to a good reason that the government has, then it will be okay. This is the easiest way for judges to decide if a law is okay or not. It is also called the rational-basis test or rational-purpose test.
A more thorough explanation:
Minimal scrutiny, also known as the rational-basis test, is a criterion used by courts to analyze a statute that does not involve a fundamental right or a suspect or quasi-suspect classification under the Due Process or Equal Protection Clause. Under this test, a court will uphold a law if it has a reasonable relationship to the attainment of a legitimate governmental objective.
For example, if a state passes a law requiring all drivers to wear seat belts while driving, the court will apply minimal scrutiny to determine if the law is constitutional. The court will ask if the law has a reasonable relationship to a legitimate governmental objective, such as promoting public safety. If the court finds that the law is rationally related to this objective, it will uphold the law.
Another example is a law that requires individuals to obtain a license before operating a business. The court will apply minimal scrutiny to determine if the law is constitutional. The court will ask if the law has a reasonable relationship to a legitimate governmental objective, such as protecting consumers from fraud. If the court finds that the law is rationally related to this objective, it will uphold the law.