Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act aims to protect the fundamental right of parents to make decisions about their children’s upbringing, education, and healthcare. It asserts that this right is rooted in tradition and established Supreme Court precedent, emphasizing parental authority and conscience. The bill seeks to limit government interference in these decisions, ensuring parents retain control unless there’s a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means are used. It also clarifies definitions and establishes a judicial remedy for violations.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘government,’ ‘parent,’ and ‘child’ for the purpose of the Act.
- Establishes that the liberty of parents to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and healthcare is a fundamental right.
- Requires government to demonstrate a ‘compelling governmental interest’ before restricting parental rights.
- Protects specific rights, including education, moral/religious upbringing, and healthcare decisions.
- Creates a judicial remedy for parents seeking to challenge government actions that infringe on their rights.
- Amends existing laws (Revised Statutes and Title 5 of the United States Code) to incorporate the Act’s protections.
- Applies the Act to all federal laws and their implementation.
- Specifies exceptions, excluding actions causing serious physical harm or ending a child’s life.
Who is affected
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