▁The ▁test ▁has ▁two ▁parts : ▁first , ▁is ▁it ▁possible ▁to ▁sever ▁the ▁invalid ▁prov isions ▁and , ▁second , ▁if ▁so , ▁is ▁what ▁remains ▁giving ▁effect ▁to ▁the ▁purpose ▁of ▁the ▁legisl ative ▁scheme ? ▁ ▁The ▁effect ▁of ▁section ▁ 2 3 2 ( 3 ) ▁of ▁the ▁Constitution ▁would ▁be ▁to ▁give ▁effect ▁to ▁the ▁principle ▁of ▁" reading ▁down " ▁the ▁prov isions ▁in ▁issue , ▁perm itting ▁a ▁p ared - down ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁legisl ation ▁so ▁as ▁to ▁rescue ▁it ▁from ▁a ▁declaration ▁of ▁invalid ity . ▁Import antly , ▁however , ▁it ▁did ▁not ▁require ▁restricted ▁interpretation ▁of ▁fundamental ▁rights ▁so ▁as ▁to ▁inter f ere ▁as ▁little ▁as ▁possible ▁with ▁pre - ex isting ▁law . ▁Nor ▁was ▁it ▁the ▁function ▁of ▁the ▁court ▁to ▁fill ▁in ▁lac un ae ▁in ▁pre - const itution al ▁stat utes ▁to ▁save ▁them ▁from ▁invalid ity . ▁ ▁As ▁to ▁the ▁applic ability ▁of ▁the ▁prov isions ▁of ▁section ▁ 3 3 ( 1 ) ▁of ▁the ▁Constitution , ▁which ▁justify ▁the ▁limitation ▁of ▁a ▁fundamental ▁right , ▁the ▁court ▁set ▁out ▁a ▁two - stage ▁approach . ▁It ▁appeared ▁to ▁the ▁court ▁that ▁the ▁more ▁prof ound ▁the ▁interest ▁being ▁protected , ▁and ▁the ▁gra ver ▁the ▁viol ation , ▁the ▁more ▁string ent ▁should ▁be ▁the ▁scr ut iny . ▁The ▁two - stage ▁process ▁was ▁not ▁to ▁be ▁applied ▁mechan ically ▁and ▁in ▁a ▁sequ entially ▁divided ▁way . ▁The ▁values