{"identifier":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131","title":42,"num":"\u00a7\u202f2000bb\u20131.","heading":"Free exercise of religion protected","text":"\u00a7\u202f2000bb\u20131.\nFree exercise of religion protected\n(a)\nIn general\nGovernment shall not substantially burden a person\u2019s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except as provided in subsection (b).\n(b)\nException\nGovernment may substantially burden a person\u2019s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person\u2014\n(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and\n(2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.\n(c)\nJudicial relief\nA person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against a government. Standing to assert a claim or defense under this section shall be governed by the general rules of standing under article III of the Constitution.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f2000bb\u20131."},{"t":"heading","text":"Free exercise of religion protected"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Government shall not substantially burden a person\u2019s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except as provided in subsection (b).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Exception"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"Government may substantially burden a person\u2019s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131/b/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131/b/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000bb\u20131/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Judicial relief"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"A person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against a government. Standing to assert a claim or defense under this section shall be governed by the general rules of standing under article III of the Constitution.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}