Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

overbreadth doctrine

Constitutional law. The doctrine holding that if a statute is so broadly written that it deters free expression, then it can be struck down on its face because of its chilling effect - even if it also prohibits acts that may legitimately be forbidden. ( The Supreme Court has used this doctrine to invalidate a number of laws, including those that would disallow peaceful picketing or require loyalty oaths. Cf. VAGUENESS DOCTRINE.