Which standard of review requires a compelling government interest?

• A. Strict Scrutiny
• B. Intermediate Scrutiny
• C. Rational Basis
• D. Heightened Scrutiny

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how courts evaluate laws that restrict rights. The standard that requires a compelling government interest is strict scrutiny. When a law affects a fundamental right or targets a suspect classification (like race or national origin), the government must show that the objective is compelling and that the measure is narrowly tailored to achieve that objective using the least restrictive means. That demanding test is what makes this standard the strongest and the correct choice. By contrast, rational basis simply requires a rational relation to a legitimate government goal, while intermediate scrutiny demands an important objective and a substantial relation (often used for sex classifications). Heightened scrutiny is not the formal, universally applied framework here, and does not itself require a compelling interest in the same clear-cut way.