The rational basis test is a judicial review test. A judicial review test is what courts use to determine the constitutionality of a statute or ordinance.
The Requirements of the Test
To pass the rational basis test, the statute or ordinance must havea legitimate state interest, and there must be a rational connection between the statute's/ordinance's means and goals.
Rational Basis Test Comparison
There are three judicial review tests: the rational basis test, the intermediate scrutiny test, and the strict scrutiny test. The intermediate scrutiny test and the strict scrutiny test are considered more stringent than the rational basis test.
The rational basis test is generally used when in cases where no fundamental rights or suspect classifications are at issue.
The rational basis test is also referred to as "rational review."
Further Reading
For more on the rational basis test, see this University of Virginia Law Review article, this New York University Law Review article, and this University of Notre Dame Law Review article.
