Which legal principle asserts that legislation must bear a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest and individual liberties?

The legal principle that asserts legislation must bear a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest while also considering individual liberties is known as substantive due process. This doctrine is rooted in the concept that certain rights are so fundamental to the freedom of individuals that any government action infringing upon these rights must serve a legitimate purpose and not be arbitrary or capricious.

Substantive due process protects against governmental interference in fundamental personal rights, ensuring that laws enacted by the state are rationally related to achieving a legitimate governmental goal. This means that the law not only has to exist, but it must also be reasonable and justified in relation to the interests it aims to promote.

In contrast, procedural due process relates to the procedures that must be followed when the government deprives a person of life, liberty, or property, ensuring fairness in the legal processes involved. Equal protection pertains to the requirement that individuals in similar circumstances must be treated equally under the law. Administrative discretion involves the authority of government officials to make decisions within set guidelines, which is different from addressing the rational basis of legislation. Thus, the emphasis on rational relationships in substantive due process aligns directly with the assessment of governmental interests and individual rights.