Substantive due process focuses on which aspect of government power?

Substantive due process is a constitutional doctrine that protects certain fundamental rights from government interference. It goes beyond mere procedural requirements, which focus on the fairness of the legal process, and instead examines the justification for government actions that affect personal rights and liberties.

The essence of substantive due process is to ensure that the government does not infringe on rights that are deemed fundamental without a sufficient justification. This includes assessing whether the laws or actions taken by the government have a reasonable and legitimate rationale that directly supports the restrictions or regulations imposed on individual freedoms.

In the context of the choices presented, the focus on "the logic behind laws affecting personal rights" accurately encompasses the core idea of substantive due process. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether the government's rationale for enacting specific laws aligns with protecting the fundamental rights of individuals, such as privacy rights, the right to marry, or parental rights. This approach ensures that there is a substantive basis for laws that may infringe upon personal freedoms, rather than merely assessing whether the procedures were followed correctly.