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Insight Horizon Media

Which of the following is an example of a statute that is void for vagueness?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Published Feb 13, 2026

Which of the following is an example of a statute that is void for vagueness?

A state legislature enacts a statute that criminalizes “inappropriate attire on public beaches.” Larry, a law enforcement officer, arrests Kathy for wearing a two-piece bathing suit at the beach because in his belief, women should wear one-piece bathing suits.

Why is void of vagueness important?

The vagueness doctrine thus serves two purposes. First: All persons receive a fair notice of what is punishable and what is not. Second: The vagueness doctrine helps prevent arbitrary enforcement of the laws and arbitrary prosecutions.

What is the fundamental rationale behind the void for vagueness doctrine?

The void-for-vagueness doctrine dictates that unduly uncertain laws, whether criminal or civil, violate due process and cannot be enforced. The doctrine has two main rationales, one based on individual rights and one based on constitutional structure, that guide its application.

What is overbroad law?

Overbreadth is shorthand for the overbreadth doctrine, which provides that a regulation of speech can sweep too broadly and prohibit protected as well as non-protected speech. A regulation of speech is unconstitutionally overbroad if it regulates a substantial amount of constitutionally protected expression.

What is void for vagueness doctrine Philippines?

The void-for-vagueness doctrine states that “a statute which either forbids or requires the doing of an act in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its application, violates the first essential of due process of law.”

What is meant by void for vagueness?

Definition. 1) In criminal law, a declaration that a law is invalid because it is not sufficiently clear. Laws are usually found void for vagueness if, after setting some requirement or punishment, the law does not specify what is required or what conduct is punishable. For more information, see vagueness doctrine.

What is void-for-vagueness doctrine Philippines?

What is meant by void-for-vagueness?

What does void for vagueness mean in law?

What is the chilling effect of overbreadth and vagueness?

Overbroad statutes allow officials to enforce such laws selectively and in ways that may favor some viewpoints but punish others, and they create a chilling effect by making speakers wary of engaging in First Amendment speech for fear they may subsequently be convicted for violating a statute the speakers did not …

What is overbreadth void?

1 : the quality or state of being overbroad [a statute void for ] 2 : a doctrine in constitutional law: a law that prohibits protected conduct (as free speech) as part of its reach may be struck down as unconstitutional if the threat to protected activity is a substantial effect and if it cannot be clearly removed.

What is lis mota?

LIS MOTA. The cause of the suit or action. By this term is understood the commencement of the controversy, and the beginning of the suit.

What is the void for vagueness doctrine and how does it work?

The void for vagueness doctrine advances four underlying policies. First, the doctrine encourages the government to clearly distinguish conduct that is lawful from that which is unlawful. Under the Due Process Clauses, individuals must be given adequate notice of their legal obligations so they can govern their behavior accordingly.

What does vagueness mean in criminal law?

The vagueness may be from uncertainty in regard to persons within the scope of the act . . . or in regard to the applicable test to ascertain guilt. Id. Cf. Colten v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104, 110 (1972).

What is a “vagueness challenge”?

According to the Court, “vagueness challenges in the First Amendment context, like overbreadth challenges typically produce facial invalidation, while statutes found vague as a matter of due process typically are invalidated only ‘as applied’ to a particular defendant”.

When is a law deemed unconstitutionally vague?

If a person of ordinary intelligence cannot determine what persons are regulated, what conduct is prohibited, or what punishment may be imposed under a particular law, then the law will be deemed unconstitutionally vague.