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US government and civics
Course: US government and civics > Unit 3
Lesson 2: The First Amendment: freedom of religionFreedom of religion: lesson overview
AP.GOPO:
LOR‑2 (EU)
, LOR‑2.C (LO)
, LOR‑2.C.1 (EK)
A high-level overview of the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment.
The First Amendment prevents the government from supporting an established religion and protects citizens' free exercise of religion.
Key terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| establishment clause | The first clause of the First Amendment, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This prevents the federal government from supporting an official religion and sets the United States apart from many European nations, which provide official government support for a national, or “established,” church. |
| free exercise clause | The second clause of the First Amendment, which prevents the federal government from interfering with its citizens’ religious beliefs and practices. The Supreme Court has upheld some limits on religious practices that conflict with secular laws, such as religious drug use or polygamy. |
| Lemon test | A test to determine whether a law violates the establishment clause devised by the Supreme Court in the 1971 case Lemon v. Kurtzman. Based on the Lemon test, laws are constitutional only if they have a legitimate secular purpose, neither advance nor inhibit religion, and do not result in an “excessive government entanglement” with religion. |
| nondenominational prayer | Prayer that does not advocate the beliefs of a specific religion but that acknowledges the existence of a divine being. |
| secular | Nonreligious or unaffiliated with religion. |
| “wall of separation” between church and state | A phrase coined by Thomas Jefferson in an 1802 letter, which described his view that there should be complete separation between the government and religion. |
Cases to know
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - A case contesting a New York state law requiring schoolchildren to recite a nondenominational prayer each morning (although children could choose not to participate). A group of parents sued the state arguing that the law was a violation of the establishment clause; the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, judging that New York state was giving unconstitutional government support to religion by providing the prayer.
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - A Supreme Court case concerning the mandatory schooling of three Amish students. The state of Wisconsin fined the students’ families for refusing to send them to school after the eighth grade; the Amish families argued that higher education conflicted with the free exercise of their religious beliefs. The Court ruled in their favor, holding that the First Amendment’s protections for free exercise of religion outweighed the state’s interests in compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade.
Key takeaways
Balancing liberty and order — Citizens’ ability to worship (or not worship) as they please is a fundamental individual liberty. The Supreme Court has upheld some limits to free exercise, however; although individuals may believe whatever they want, the government may limit actions that break secular laws if there is a compelling government interest at stake. Similarly, the Court has permitted some government support for religion, such as public funding for students attending religious schools.
Review questions
What is the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause?
When, if ever, may the government limit the free exercise of religion?
When, if ever, may the government provide support to religion?
Want to join the conversation?
what is it. when if ever, may the government limit the free exercise of religion?(4 votes)- If they are in conflict with the rights of others. For example, an assault could not be justified on religious grounds.(2 votes)
My main question is that if the American Government doesn’t enforce or go by any religion why does it follow the Christian religion?? I mean like why does it only give official days off for things like Christmas while it doesn’t even acknowledge other important dates like Diwali or Ramadan??
** this is a very stupid question but i had to ask so sorry(5 votes)
Well, I think it has to do with the percentage of the population celebrating Christmas in relation to Diwali or Ramadan; a lot more people celebrate Christmas.
This is just a guess, though.(0 votes)
- When, if ever, may the government provide support to religion?(1 vote)
Hopefully never, because back in the 1700s, during colonization, religion was one of the main focus points for England (and look how that turned out).(2 votes)
- Also in Engel v Vitale who is Engel and who is Vitale and what sides they are going with??(1 vote)
- To what extent is the use of drugs in religion allowed?(1 vote)