Poison pill (impermissible motive doctrine)

Definition

A constitutional principle that when a law is enacted with an impermissible purpose — such as suppressing disfavored speech — that motive can invalidate the entire law, even if the government also had a legitimate secondary purpose.

Examples

• •Petitioners argued content manipulation concerns are an impermissible 'poison pill' that renders the entire Act unconstitutional, meaning even the data security provisions cannot independently save it.

Related Terms