Heightened scrutiny is used for equal protection cases involving gender discrimination. This type of discrimination is when a person is treated differently because of being male or female. Gender is considered a protected class under the 14th Amendment. 

What is the scrutiny test?

Under strict scrutiny, the government must show that there is a compelling, or very strong, interest in the law, and that the law is either very narrowly tailored or is the least speech restrictive means available to the government.

What is enhanced scrutiny?

In constitutional law, the enhanced scrutiny test is a term used to refer to intermediate scrutiny, which is used to determine the constitutionality of a statute. [Last updated in November of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

What is the the intermediate scrutiny test?

Intermediate scrutiny is a test courts will use to determine a statute’s constitutionality. Intermediate scrutiny is only invoked when a state or the federal government passes a statute which negatively affects certain protected classes (this is described in further detail in the next section).

What is the lowest level of scrutiny?

Rational Basis Review

Rational Basis Review
This is the lowest level of scrutiny applied to challenged laws, and it has historically required very little for a law to pass as constitutional.

What is heightened intermediate scrutiny?

Heightened scrutiny is a standard of evaluation that US judges must meet in certain kinds of cases when a policy, rule, or law is brought to a court by someone who wishes to challenge it. It is one of three levels of scrutiny and is also known as intermediate scrutiny.

What are the 3 levels of scrutiny?

Then the choice between the three levels of scrutiny, strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, or rational basis scrutiny, is the doctrinal way of capturing the individual interest and perniciousness of the kind of government action.

What is strict vs intermediate scrutiny?

In the free speech context, intermediate scrutiny is the test or standard of review that courts apply when analyzing content-neutral speech versus content-based speech. Content-based speech is reviewed under strict scrutiny in which courts evaluate the value of the subject matter or the content of the communication.

What is intermediate scrutiny example?

The U.S. Supreme Court has different versions of intermediate scrutiny in First Amendment jurisprudence. Three common examples are the general content-neutral test, the O’Brien test for when speech and non-speech are connected together, and the Central-Hudson test for commercial speech regulations.

What is strict scrutiny examples?

Example: An example of applying the strict scrutiny standard to fundamental rights (Equal Protection) based upon race, is Loving v. Virginia (1967), where SCOTUS struck down a Virginia law banning interracial marriage. Practice Scenario: The state passes a law prohibiting individuals from burning the state flag.

What is the strict scrutiny test used to determine?



the constitutionality of certain laws

Strict scrutiny is a form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of certain laws. Strict scrutiny is often used by courts when a plaintiff sues the government for discrimination.

What is the strict scrutiny test simple definition?

What is Strict Scrutiny Test? A form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of certain laws that on their face raise problematic suggestions of potential abuse or discriminatory intent.

What is strict scrutiny test of reasonable classification?

Thus the term “strict scrutiny” refers to a test under which statutes will be pronounced unconstitutional unless they are “necessary” or “narrowly drawn” or “closely tailored” to serve a “compelling governmental interest”.

What is the strict scrutiny test simple definition?



What is Strict Scrutiny Test? A form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of certain laws that on their face raise problematic suggestions of potential abuse or discriminatory intent.

What is scrutiny and why is it important?

What is scrutiny. Scrutiny ensures that decision-making processes are clear and accessible to the public and that the people taking decisions are held accountable for those decisions. Good scrutiny also ensures that there are opportunities for the public to influence and improve the services they receive.

What is the strict scrutiny test in government?

What is the Strict Scrutiny standard for Review of a law? The Strict Scrutiny standard requires that a law affecting a fundamental right have a compelling state purpose to be constitutional. It also requires that the law be narrowly tailored to achieve the government purpose or interest.

What is an example of strict scrutiny test?

During the civil rights era and through today, the Supreme Court has applied Strict Scrutiny to government actions that classify people based on race. For example, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court applied Strict Scrutiny to strike down Virginia’s law banning interracial marriage.

What is strict vs intermediate scrutiny?

In the free speech context, intermediate scrutiny is the test or standard of review that courts apply when analyzing content-neutral speech versus content-based speech. Content-based speech is reviewed under strict scrutiny in which courts evaluate the value of the subject matter or the content of the communication.

What is strict scrutiny test of reasonable classification?



Thus the term “strict scrutiny” refers to a test under which statutes will be pronounced unconstitutional unless they are “necessary” or “narrowly drawn” or “closely tailored” to serve a “compelling governmental interest”.