Undue burden standard facts for kids
The undue burden standard is a special rule used by the Supreme Court of the United States. Think of it as a test the Court uses to check if a law is fair. This test helps make sure that new laws don't make it too hard for people to use their basic rights. It's a very important part of how laws work in the U.S..
Contents
What is the Undue Burden Standard?
The undue burden standard means that a government, like a state legislature, cannot create a law that puts too much difficulty or restriction on people. If a law makes it really hard for someone to use a basic right, then it might be an "undue burden." The Supreme Court decides if a law crosses this line.
How Does the Supreme Court Use It?
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Its job is to interpret the Constitution and make sure laws follow it. When a law is challenged, the Court might use the undue burden standard to see if it's fair. If a law creates an "undue burden," the Court can say that the law is not allowed.
A Famous Example: Morgan v. Virginia
One important time the undue burden standard was used was in a case called Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia in 1946. This case was about a law in Virginia that said Black and white people had to sit in separate sections on buses. This was called "separate but equal" segregation.
The Supreme Court looked at this law. Justice Stanley Forman Reed explained that a state law can be invalid if it puts too much of a burden on things that need to be the same across the country. In this case, it was about people traveling between states.
Why Was This Law an "Undue Burden"?
The Court decided that making people sit separately on buses was an "undue burden." It made travel difficult and unfair, especially for people traveling across state lines. The Court said that transportation needed to be uniform, meaning the same rules should apply everywhere. Because the Virginia law created an unfair burden on interstate travel, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional. This was a big step in fighting against segregation.
