Rational basis review

Definition

The most lenient standard of judicial review, under which a law is upheld if it is rationally related to any legitimate government interest. The government does not need to prove its reasoning — courts may even hypothesize justifications. Nearly all laws survive this standard.

Examples

• •Tennessee argued that SB1 should be evaluated under rational basis review because it does not classify on the basis of sex, meaning the state would only need to show any reasonable justification for the law.

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