Also known as: rationally related · legitimate government interest · rational basis · rational basis review · rational basis test
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A constitutional standard of review under which a law or government action is upheld if it bears a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental objective. Courts apply this deferential test when no fundamental right or suspect classification is at issue. The standard permits laws that are underinclusive or overinclusive so long as the connection to a permissible purpose is not arbitrary.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Ruby Rivera, a foreign-trained lawyer from a majority-Muslim country, was denied entry at a U.S. port under an executive order citing national security risks from sanctions evasion. The order recited a facially neutral security purpose and applied to nationals from designated countries. A court upheld the order because the entry restriction bore a rational relationship to the legitimate objective of protecting sensitive litigation and infrastructure.
Rebecca Ross challenged a state statute requiring spousal notification before an abortion. The provision advanced the state's interest in marital communication. A court invalidated the measure because the notification rule was not rationally related to any legitimate governmental objective once the burden on the woman's right was considered.
A police officer challenged a department regulation limiting hairstyles and facial hair. The rule advanced the department's interest in discipline and uniformity. A court sustained the regulation because the appearance standard was rationally related to the legitimate governmental objective of maintaining a professional police force.
Rowan Russell was prosecuted under a federal statute criminalizing possession of a firearm near a school. The government argued the law protected interstate commerce by preventing violence that could disrupt education. A court dismissed the indictment because the prohibition on simple intrastate possession bore no rational relationship to a legitimate national economic interest.
A business owner challenged a city ordinance banning most exterior vehicle advertisements while allowing ads for the owner's own business. The rule advanced the city's interest in reducing traffic distractions. A court sustained the ordinance because the selective prohibition was rationally related to the legitimate objective of traffic safety.
A property owner challenged a city's taking of land for transfer to private developers under a comprehensive redevelopment plan. The plan advanced the city's interest in economic revitalization. A court upheld the taking because the condemnation was rationally related to the legitimate public purpose of increasing tax revenue and jobs.
Rational basis review requires only that the classification be rationally related to a legitimate government interest. Courts defer heavily to legislative judgments and uphold laws even when they are underinclusive or overinclusive.
No. Moral disapproval of a particular relationship or class of persons does not constitute a legitimate governmental interest under rational basis review. A law criminalizing private consensual adult conduct must rest on some independent objective beyond enforcing a moral view.
…interest which is compelling," Bates v. Little Rock , 361 U. S. 516, 524. The law must be shown "necessary, and not merely rationally related, to the accomplishment of a permissible state policy." McLaughlin v. Florida , 379 U. S. 184, 196. See Schneider v. Irvington , 308 U. S. 147, 161. Although the Connecticut birth-control…
…Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States , 379 U. S., at 258-259. Thus, under commerce, as under due process, adoption of rational basis review expressed the recognition that the Court had no sustainable
…essence of my position, I will not swell the United States Reports with repetition of what I have said before; and applying the
…as fighting words, the Equal Protection Clause requires that the regulation of unprotected speech be rationally related to a
…laws applicable exclusively to aliens so long as the distinction taken between aliens and citizens is not shown to be without rational basis. Patsone v. Pennsylvania, supra ; Terrace v. Thompson , 263 U. S. 197; Cockrill v. California , 268 U. S. 258; Ohio v. Deckebach , 274 U. S. 392, 396, and cases cited. The federal…
Yes. A taking satisfies the public-use requirement when it is rationally related to a legitimate public purpose such as implementing a comprehensive redevelopment plan that the government reasonably believes will benefit the public.
Yes. Age is not a suspect classification, so age-based distinctions receive rational basis review and are upheld when rationally related to a legitimate objective such as ensuring physical capability for demanding jobs.
Yes. Congress's war powers permit postwar rent controls when they are rationally related to ongoing national defense needs such as preventing displacement of defense research personnel near military laboratories.