* It serves a compelling government interest**: This means the law must have a significant and legitimate purpose.
* It is the least restrictive means to achieve that interest: The law must be the best way to achieve the desired outcome without unnecessarily burdening individuals' rights. In other words, there shouldn't be less restrictive alternatives that would still achieve the government's objective.
Essentially, narrowly tailored means the law is carefully crafted to address a specific problem without unduly impacting other rights or freedoms.
Example:
Imagine a law prohibiting certain types of protests in front of a hospital. This law might be considered narrowly tailored if it only applies to protests that directly disrupt hospital operations (e.g., blocking entrances, making excessive noise) and doesn't restrict peaceful protests that don't interfere with patient care.
Why is it important?
The concept of "narrowly tailored" is crucial in ensuring that laws and policies respect individual rights and freedoms. It helps to prevent the government from overstepping its bounds and limiting rights more than necessary.
Here's how it's used in different contexts:
* First Amendment (Free Speech): When the government restricts speech, it must prove the restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.
* Equal Protection Clause: Laws that classify people differently must be narrowly tailored to achieve a legitimate government purpose and avoid discrimination.
* Fourth Amendment (Search and Seizure): Warrants must be narrowly tailored to describe the specific place to be searched and the things to be seized.
In summary, "narrowly tailored" is a fundamental principle of constitutional law that helps protect individual rights by ensuring that government actions are justified and limited in scope.