How do the establishment and the free exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution differ? Define each and compare. How do these clauses influence issues of church and state in the American policymaking process? What is the role of the courts in this process?
What will be an ideal response?
The establishment clause forbids the establishment of a national religion, and the free exercise clause ensures that citizens are able to practice their religion freely. These clauses are different in that the framers intended the establishment clause to prevent the government from endorsing or supporting any particular religion, while the free exercise clause forbade the government to interfere with individuals practicing their religion. These clauses affect the American policymaking process because some see the clauses as competing with one another (the framers did not share this sentiment). This argument suggests that Supreme Court rulings designed to prohibit the establishment of religion also prevent individuals from free exercise of their religious beliefs, for example, at graduation events at public schools. These clauses are clarified through court decisions, primarily in the area of public education, that have addressed the limits of entanglement between the state and religion. Students could also identify the role of the courts in specific cases, including Kitzmiller v. Dover and Engel v. Vitale, among others.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following provides the best evidence for the claim that America's soft power waned during the first decade of the twenty-first century?
a. President Obama's attempts to negotiate with adversaries and increase collaboration with allies b. the mix of diplomatic pressure, multilateral sanctions, and International Atomic Energy Agency inspections used to deter nuclear weapons in North Korea c. the rise of anti-Americanism following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, not only in the Arab world, but also in Western Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Russia d. the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon
The Commander in Chief of the U.S. military is the
a. President. b. Speaker of the House. c. Vice- President. d. Minority leader of the House. e. Secretary of Defense,
During the 2000 presidential campaign, what did the Republican candidates offer the voters?
A) an across-the-board tax cut for everyone B) a tax cut for the poor C) a tax cut just for the wealthy D) a slight tax increase related to the inflation rate E) the chance to invest all of their social security taxes in military defense stocks
You are the senior senator for New Jersey and a member of the president’s party. There is a vacancy in the federal court in the state. You expect the president to call you any day now and request your nomination for that vacancy per the norm of ______.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).