{"identifier":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135","title":42,"num":"\u00a7\u202f2000cc\u20135.","heading":"Definitions","text":"\u00a7\u202f2000cc\u20135.\nDefinitions\nIn this chapter:\n(1)\nClaimant\nThe term \u201cclaimant\u201d means a person raising a claim or defense under this chapter.\n(2)\nDemonstrates\nThe term \u201cdemonstrates\u201d means meets the burdens of going forward with the evidence and of persuasion.\n(3)\nFree Exercise Clause\nThe term \u201cFree Exercise Clause\u201d means that portion of the first amendment to the Constitution that proscribes laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion.\n(4)\nGovernment\nThe term \u201cgovernment\u201d\u2014\n(A) means\u2014\n(i) a State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity created under the authority of a State;\n(ii) any branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official of an entity listed in clause (i); and\n(iii) any other person acting under color of State law; and\n(B) for the purposes of sections 2000cc\u20132(b) and 2000cc\u20133 of this title, includes the United States, a branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official of the United States, and any other person acting under color of Federal law.\n(5)\nLand use regulation\nThe term \u201cland use regulation\u201d means a zoning or landmarking law, or the application of such a law, that limits or restricts a claimant\u2019s use or development of land (including a structure affixed to land), if the claimant has an ownership, leasehold, easement, servitude, or other property interest in the regulated land or a contract or option to acquire such an interest.\n(6)\nProgram or activity\nThe term \u201cprogram or activity\u201d means all of the operations of any entity as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of\nsection 2000d\u20134a of this title\n(7)\nReligious exercise\n(A)\nIn general\nThe term \u201creligious exercise\u201d includes any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.\n(B)\nRule\nThe use, building, or conversion of real property for the purpose of religious exercise shall be considered to be religious exercise of the person or entity that uses or intends to use the property for that purpose.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f2000cc\u20135."},{"t":"heading","text":"Definitions","tail":"\n"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In this chapter:"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Claimant"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cclaimant\u201d means a person raising a claim or defense under this chapter.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Demonstrates"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cdemonstrates\u201d means meets the burdens of going forward with the evidence and of persuasion.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Free Exercise Clause"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cFree Exercise Clause\u201d means that portion of the first amendment to the Constitution that proscribes laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Government"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The term \u201cgovernment\u201d\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" means\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4/A/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" a State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity created under the authority of a State;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4/A/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"content","text":" any branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official of an entity listed in clause (i); and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4/A/iii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iii)"},{"t":"content","text":" any other person acting under color of State law; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/4/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" for the purposes of sections 2000cc\u20132(b) and 2000cc\u20133 of this title, includes the United States, a branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official of the United States, and any other person acting under color of Federal law.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Land use regulation"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cland use regulation\u201d means a zoning or landmarking law, or the application of such a law, that limits or restricts a claimant\u2019s use or development of land (including a structure affixed to land), if the claimant has an ownership, leasehold, easement, servitude, or other property interest in the regulated land or a contract or option to acquire such an interest.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Program or activity"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cprogram or activity\u201d means all of the operations of any entity as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 2000d\u20134a of this title","href":"/us/usc/t42/s2000d\u20134a","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/7","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(7)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Religious exercise"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/7/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201creligious exercise\u201d includes any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t42/s2000cc\u20135/7/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Rule"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The use, building, or conversion of real property for the purpose of religious exercise shall be considered to be religious exercise of the person or entity that uses or intends to use the property for that purpose.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}