Civil Rights and Liberties: Your Rights: Freedom of Religion
According to the establishment clause, how would a government funded museum posting of the Ten Commandments along with the history of religion and its beliefs and practices be viewed?
The posting would not be in violation of the clause because there is a learning purpose to the items.
Read the excerpt from the US Constitution.
Congress shall make no law respecting . . . religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Which example violates this portion of Amendment I?
A governor declares a new state religion.
What does separation of church and state mean?
The government cannot make laws based on religion.
What is the purpose of the establishment clause?
to stop government from supporting one religion
The establishment clause would prevent
the mayor’s office from displaying a cross
Courts that use a landmark case as precedent for a decision are
using an earlier case as a guide.
A principal who leads a prayer at a graduation violates the First Amendment’s
establishment clause.
The First Amendment guarantees
religious freedom.
In Engel v. Vitale, why did the courts rule that prayer in schools was unconstitutional?
The prayer was considered a religious activity.
In the American colonies, which document called for religious freedom and helped to create aspects fo the First Amendment?
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
An activity passes the "Lemon Test” if it is
secular, neutral, and free of entanglement.
Which example violates the free-exercise Clause?
stopping a religious group from buying a building based on their faith
According to the precedent, Santa Fe School District v. Doe, a teacher who allows a student to lead a prayer at a high school baseball game would most likely be ruled
unconstitutional, because the game is affiliated with the school.
What is true of a secular activity?
It is separate from all religious traditions.
What is true of a non-denominational activity?
It does not support a specific religion.
The government gives public funds to low-performing schools for new computers. They decide to give more money to the lowest performers, some of which happen to promote multidenominational religions.
According to the establishment clause, how would a court rule on this case?
as in compliance with the clause because the government’s action was for a secular purpose, did not advance a particular religion, and was unentangled
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution’s ________ Amendment.
first