Legal Definitions - Lord's Day Act

LORD'S DAY ACT

The Lord's Day Act is a type of law known as a blue law. It regulates or prohibits commercial activity on Sundays, which is considered the Christian Sabbath. These laws were once common but have declined since the 1980s due to their religious origins. Blue laws can be constitutional if they serve a non-religious purpose, such as providing a day of rest for workers.

An example of the Lord's Day Act is a law that prohibits stores from being open on Sundays. Another example is a law that restricts the sale of alcohol on Sundays. These laws are intended to promote rest and religious observance on the Christian Sabbath.

These examples illustrate how the Lord's Day Act is a type of blue law that regulates commercial activity on Sundays. They also show how these laws can be controversial due to their religious origins and how they can be challenged in court if they are deemed to violate the separation of church and state.