What must a law meet to pass rational basis review?

To pass rational basis review, a law must be rationally related to a legitimate government interest. This standard is the most lenient form of judicial review and applies to laws that do not involve suspect classifications or fundamental rights. Under this standard, the government does not need to demonstrate a compelling or even substantial interest; instead, it simply needs to show that there is a legitimate interest behind the law and that the law is reasonably connected to achieving that interest.

The key point is that the relationship between the law and the government interest does not need to be significant or inherently compelling; it only needs to be rational. This means that even if the court believes the law is not the best way to achieve the interest, it can still pass rational basis review as long as the law is not arbitrary or capricious and has some logical connection to that legitimate interest.

This understanding is crucial in differentiating rational basis from stricter scrutiny levels which require more substantial justification, hence distinguishing it from the standards that require compelling or substantial governmental interests.