Also known as: governmental interest · government interest · government interests · state interests · compelling interest
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An objective or policy concern advanced by a government to justify regulatory measures or to support application of its law in multistate disputes. Courts assess whether the interest is legitimate, important, or compelling and whether the challenged action is tailored to advance it.
Grace Gupta owed unpaid child support in Wisconsin. She sought to marry but the state required court approval because of the arrears. The court evaluated whether the restriction served sufficiently important governmental interests and was closely tailored to them, ultimately striking down the barrier as insufficiently connected to the state's goals.
George Garcia sought a development permit for his coastal lot. The city conditioned approval on his granting a public beach easement. The court examined whether an essential nexus existed between the easement demand and a legitimate governmental interest that would have justified denying the permit outright.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Gideon Graves contributed to a political party in excess of federal caps. Regulators defended the limits by citing the government's interest in preventing corruption and the appearance of corruption. The court weighed whether that interest justified the restrictions on political association.
Galaxy Technologies challenged EPA rules requiring reductions in greenhouse gases from its plants. The agency pointed to its interest in addressing climate change and protecting public health. The court assessed whether that governmental interest supported federal authority to regulate the emissions.
Greta Goldstein sued under the federal Violence Against Women Act after suffering gender-motivated violence. The government defended the statute by invoking its interest in protecting women and regulating interstate commerce. The court scrutinized whether those interests supported Congress's authority to create the civil remedy.
Gustavo Gutierrez owned large tracts of land in Hawaii. The state sought to condemn portions for redistribution to reduce oligopoly ownership. The court considered whether the state's interest in correcting a concentrated land market constituted a valid public purpose supporting the takings.
Courts first identify whether the asserted interest is legitimate, important, or compelling depending on the level of scrutiny. They then examine whether the restriction is closely tailored or narrowly drawn to advance only that interest rather than broader or unrelated goals.
Supporting sources
The government must show an essential nexus between the demanded property interest and a legitimate governmental interest that would justify denying the permit. The exaction must also be roughly proportional to the development's impact.
Supporting sources
No. Zoning must bear a substantial relation to legitimate governmental interests in health, safety, or general welfare. Arbitrary spot zoning that singles out one parcel without a planning justification fails this test.
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…way, and for whatever reason she alone chooses. With this we do not agree. Appellant's arguments that Texas either has no compelling interest whatsoever in regulating abortion or, in any event, that it has no compelling interest until the point of viability is reached, are unpersuasive. As noted above, a State may properly assert…