First Amendment: Freedom of Religion - AP Government and Politics

Marsh v. Chambers (1983). Upheld legislative chaplains based on historical tradition.

Lemon Test. Three-prong test from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971).

A non-religious reason for legislation. First prong requires law to have non-religious motivation.

Establishment Clause. Prohibits government preference for any particular religion.

Prevents laws that unduly restrict religious practices. Requires compelling interest to burden religious exercise.

Lee v. Weisman (1992). Found school graduation prayer coercive to students.

Too much government involvement with religion. Third prong of Lemon Test preventing administrative oversight.

Established the Sherbert Test for religious exemptions. Required strict scrutiny for laws burdening religious practice.

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). Protected Jehovah's Witnesses from compelled speech.

Compulsory flag salute unconstitutional. Cannot force participation in patriotic exercises.

Reynolds v. United States (1879). First major case limiting religious practice for secular law.

Metaphor for separation of church and state. Jefferson's phrase describing church-state separation.

Thomas Jefferson. Coined the wall of separation metaphor in 1802.

Employment Division v. Smith (1990). Lowered protection for religious practices under neutral laws.

Excessive government involvement with religion. Third prong of Lemon Test preventing church-state mixing.

Everson v. Board of Education (1947). First major case on state funding of religious education.

Protects the right to practice one's religion freely. Second part of the Religion Clauses in the First Amendment.

Prohibits government from establishing an official religion. First part of the Religion Clauses in the First Amendment.

Engel v. Vitale (1962). Banned state-composed prayers in public schools.

Lynch v. Donnelly (1984). Applied endorsement test to Christmas display case.

Evaluates if government action endorses religion. Alternative to Lemon Test focusing on government endorsement.

Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002). Upheld school voucher programs including religious schools.

States can deny benefits for illegal activities, even if religious. Applied neutral law standard over religious exemptions.

State aid for transportation to parochial schools allowed. Indirect aid to religious schools can be constitutional.

Assesses whether government action coerces religious participation. Focuses on whether government forces religious participation.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971). Established three-prong test for Establishment Clause violations.

Exempted Amish from compulsory schooling past 8th grade. Protected Amish religious practices from state education laws.

Determines if government interest justifies burden on religion. Government must show vital need to burden religion.

Incorporated free exercise to states via the 14th Amendment. Applied Free Exercise Clause to state governments.