All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What ruling did the Supreme Court make in County of Allegheny v. ACLU?
Answer: Nativity display violated the Establishment Clause. Nativity scene alone was too explicitly religious.
Flashcard 2: Identify a case where the Supreme Court upheld a legislative prayer.
Answer: Marsh v. Chambers (1983). Upheld legislative chaplains based on historical tradition.
Flashcard 3: Which test determines if a law violates the Establishment Clause?
Answer: Lemon Test. Three-prong test from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971).
Flashcard 4: What does the term 'secular purpose' refer to in the Lemon Test?
Answer: A non-religious reason for legislation. First prong requires law to have non-religious motivation.
Flashcard 5: Which clause could be violated by a law favoring one religion over another?
Answer: Establishment Clause. Prohibits government preference for any particular religion.
Flashcard 6: How does the Free Exercise Clause protect religious practices?
Answer: Prevents laws that unduly restrict religious practices. Requires compelling interest to burden religious exercise.
Flashcard 7: Which case is known for applying the coercion test?
Answer: Lee v. Weisman (1992). Found school graduation prayer coercive to students.
Flashcard 8: What does 'excessive entanglement' mean in the Establishment Clause context?
Answer: Too much government involvement with religion. Third prong of Lemon Test preventing administrative oversight.
Flashcard 9: What is the importance of Sherbert v. Verner (1963)?
Answer: Established the Sherbert Test for religious exemptions. Required strict scrutiny for laws burdening religious practice.
Flashcard 10: Which case ruled on the Pledge of Allegiance in schools?
Answer: West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). Protected Jehovah's Witnesses from compelled speech.
Flashcard 11: What was the decision in West Virginia v. Barnette?
Answer: Compulsory flag salute unconstitutional. Cannot force participation in patriotic exercises.
Flashcard 12: Identify the Supreme Court case that ruled against polygamy.
Answer: Reynolds v. United States (1879). First major case limiting religious practice for secular law.
Flashcard 13: What is the 'wall of separation' metaphor?
Answer: Metaphor for separation of church and state. Jefferson's phrase describing church-state separation.
Flashcard 14: Which Founding Father is associated with the 'wall of separation' metaphor?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson. Coined the wall of separation metaphor in 1802.
Flashcard 15: Which case involved the use of peyote in religious ceremonies?
Answer: Employment Division v. Smith (1990). Lowered protection for religious practices under neutral laws.
Flashcard 16: What does the term 'entanglement' refer to in the Lemon Test?
Answer: Excessive government involvement with religion. Third prong of Lemon Test preventing church-state mixing.
Flashcard 17: Identify the case where the Supreme Court ruled on state aid to parochial schools.
Answer: Everson v. Board of Education (1947). First major case on state funding of religious education.
Flashcard 18: What is the Free Exercise Clause?
Answer: Protects the right to practice one's religion freely. Second part of the Religion Clauses in the First Amendment.
Flashcard 19: What is the Establishment Clause?
Answer: Prohibits government from establishing an official religion. First part of the Religion Clauses in the First Amendment.
Flashcard 20: Identify the Supreme Court case that ruled school prayer unconstitutional.
Answer: Engel v. Vitale (1962). Banned state-composed prayers in public schools.
Flashcard 21: Which case established the 'endorsement test'?
Answer: Lynch v. Donnelly (1984). Applied endorsement test to Christmas display case.
Flashcard 22: What is the 'endorsement test' related to religion?
Answer: Evaluates if government action endorses religion. Alternative to Lemon Test focusing on government endorsement.
Flashcard 23: Identify a case that allowed funding to religious schools.
Answer: Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002). Upheld school voucher programs including religious schools.
Flashcard 24: What was the decision in Employment Division v. Smith?
Answer: States can deny benefits for illegal activities, even if religious. Applied neutral law standard over religious exemptions.
Flashcard 25: What was the outcome of Everson v. Board of Education?
Answer: State aid for transportation to parochial schools allowed. Indirect aid to religious schools can be constitutional.
Flashcard 26: What is the 'coercion test' in religious freedom cases?
Answer: Assesses whether government action coerces religious participation. Focuses on whether government forces religious participation.
Flashcard 27: Which Supreme Court case set the precedent for the Lemon Test?
Answer: Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971). Established three-prong test for Establishment Clause violations.
Flashcard 28: What is the significance of Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
Answer: Exempted Amish from compulsory schooling past 8th grade. Protected Amish religious practices from state education laws.
Flashcard 29: What is the 'compelling interest test' in religious cases?
Answer: Determines if government interest justifies burden on religion. Government must show vital need to burden religion.
Flashcard 30: What principle did Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940) establish?
Answer: Incorporated free exercise to states via the 14th Amendment. Applied Free Exercise Clause to state governments.