Strict construction facts for kids

Strict construction is a way of understanding laws and the U.S. Constitution. It means that judges should stick very closely to the exact words written in the law. They should not try to guess what the law *might* have meant.

This idea is often linked to a way of thinking among judges in the United States. It suggests that judges should not add their own ideas or interpretations to the law.

What is Strict Construction?

When judges use strict construction, they focus only on what the text of a law or the Constitution actually says. If the words are clear, they believe judges should apply them exactly as they are written. They should not try to find hidden meanings or make new rules based on what they think the law implies.

For example, Hugo Black, who was a Justice (a high-ranking judge) on the Supreme Court, believed in strict construction. He looked at the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This part says, "Congress shall make no law..."

Justice Black thought the words "no law" meant exactly that: almost no exceptions. He believed Congress should truly make no law that goes against the freedoms mentioned in the First Amendment.