Also known as: minimum rationality tests · rational basis test · rational basis review · rational basis scrutiny
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A standard of judicial review under which a law or classification is upheld if it bears a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest. Courts applying this test defer heavily to legislative judgments and uphold measures that are underinclusive or overinclusive so long as any conceivable legitimate purpose supports the classification.
Marcus Mitchell, a 51-year-old police officer, challenges a state statute requiring retirement at age 50. The state defends the rule as advancing public safety by ensuring a physically capable force. The court upholds the statute because the age limit is rationally related to that legitimate objective even though Mitchell remains fit.
Mohan Malhotra, a skilled worker from a majority-Muslim country, sues after an executive order bars entry from several such nations. The order cites national security risks to infrastructure projects. The court sustains the order because it states a legitimate security purpose and is rationally connected to that goal.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Monarch Pharmaceuticals, an out-of-state insurer, challenges a state tax that favors domestic companies. The legislature claims the differential promotes local economic development. The court invalidates the tax because the distinction lacks any rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest.
Maria Morales, a state judge over the statutory retirement age, contests a constitutional provision mandating retirement at 70. The state asserts the rule preserves judicial vigor and public confidence. The court sustains the provision because the age cutoff is rationally related to those legitimate objectives.
Melissa Mills sues her assailant under a federal statute creating a civil remedy for gender-motivated violence. Congress relied on the Commerce Clause and Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court invalidates the remedy because gender classifications receive only rational basis review and Congress identified no pattern of irrational state discrimination.
Miguel Mendoza, a student in a low-wealth district, challenges the state's property-tax-based school funding system. The system produces large disparities between districts. The court upholds the scheme because wealth is not a suspect class and the funding method is rationally related to the legitimate interest in local control of education.
Age is not a suspect or quasi-suspect class, so courts apply the minimum rationality test. A law survives if it is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose.
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No. Laws may be underinclusive or overinclusive and still survive. Courts uphold a classification so long as it is rationally related to any conceivable legitimate purpose.
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A zoning ordinance fails only if it is arbitrary or lacks any rational relationship to public health, safety, or general welfare. Courts apply deferential review and uphold comprehensive zoning schemes that reasonably advance those interests.
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Courts accord substantial deference to the political branches and apply at most rational basis review. An order survives if it states a legitimate national security purpose and is rationally related to that purpose.
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…the ground that "[t]he crafting and safeguarding of public morality . . . indisputably is a legitimate government interest under rational basis scrutiny"); Milner v. Apfel , 148 F. 3d 812, 814 (CA7 1998) (citing Bowers for the proposition that "[l]egislatures are permitted to legislate with regard to morality . . . rather than confined…