Freedom of Religion

Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) decision?

It emphasized the right of parents to control the religious upbringing of their children without state infringement (In the Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) decision, the Supreme Court prioritized the civil liberties of individuals over the power of state governments. The Court ruled that Amish students did not have to attend public school past the eighth grade because it violated their rights to exercise their religious practices.)

Which of the following statements best explains how the ruling in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) changed the balance of power between governments and protection for individual liberties?

It limited the power of state governments by declaring a state law requiring Amish children to attend school until they were 16 as a violation of the First Amendment (The Court ruled in Wisconsin v. Yoder that Amish students did not have to attend public school past the eighth grade because it violated their rights to exercise their religious practices. This shows a limitation on state power to pass laws that infringe on a person's right to exercise their religion.)

Which of the following statements best explains how the Court's ruling in Engel v. Vitale (1962) changed the balance between governmental power and individual liberty?

It limited the power of state governments by striking down a school policy that required the reading of a prayer at the start of the school day (The Court ruled in Engel v. Vitale that school sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause. This shows a limitation on state power to allow schools to start the day with a nondenominational prayer.)

Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the Engel v. Vitale (1962) decision?

It upheld the separation of church and state and clarified the limitations of state governments under the establishment clause (In the Engel v. Vitale (1962) decision, the Supreme Court prioritized the civil liberties of individuals over the power of state governments. The Court ruled that school sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause.)

In 1961, students who attended public schools in Pennsylvania were required to read at least ten verses from the Bible. After students finished reading the readings, school officials required that all students recite the Lord's Prayer. In 1963, the Supreme Court heard the case and ruled that the readings and recitations violated a provision of the First Amendment. Which of the following constitutional clauses does this case have in common with Engel v. Vitale (1962)?

The establishment clause (The establishment clause prohibits the federal government from making an official American religion. In both Engel v. Vitale (1962) and the case described in the scenario, the Court ruled that the school districts had violated the establishment clause by sponsoring religious prayer of one religion.)

Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is most likely to view a case concerning which of the following as an establishment clause case? a) A courthouse prominently displays the Ten Commandments b) Congress passes a law banning handguns on school grounds c) A public university bans antiwar protest on campus d) A public school district forbids students from wearing religious jewelry

A courthouse prominently displays the Ten Commandments (The establishment clause prevents the government from endorsing religious teachings with no secular purpose.)

The free exercise clause is best defined as which of the following?

A provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from interfering with someone's ability to practice their religion (The free exercise clause states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . ." The free exercise clause is meant to protect individuals from government infringement on their religious freedom.)

The establishment clause is best defined as which of the following?

A provision of the First Amendment which prohibits the federal government from making an official American religion (The free establishment clause states that "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion. . . ." This means that the free establishment clause protects people from a state-sponsored religion)

Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is likely to view which of the following as a free exercise clause case? a) A public school prevents Muslim students from wearing headscarves b) A state law prohibits teaching evolution c) A state reimburses religious schools for textbooks and teacher salaries d) A public school holds mandatory prayers before sporting events

A public school prevents Muslim students from wearing headscarves (This scenario is an example of a case that the Supreme Court would likely view as a free exercise clause case, since the school is preventing a students from exercising their religion.)

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." Thomas Jefferson, letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, 1802 Supporters of Jefferson's view that the legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion" could point to which of the following cases?

Engel v. Vitale (Engel v. Vitale was a 1962 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that requiring public school children to recite a prayer violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment.)

In 2006, the Supreme Court heard a case about a state banning a substance used during religious ceremonies. The state banned the substance because it contained a drug prohibited by the Controlled Substances Act. But the religious organization, O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao de Vegetal (UDV) said the government was interfering with religious practices by banning the use of the substance. The Supreme Court agreed and ruled that the government did not prove a compelling interest in regulating the UDV's use of drugs for religious ceremonies. Which of the following constitutional clauses does this case have in common with Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?

The free exercise clause (The free exercise clause prohibits the government from interfering with someone's ability to practice their religion. In both Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) and the case described in the scenario, the Court ruled that states could not infringe on religious practices as those actions violated the free exercise clause.)

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the constitutional principles cited in Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)? a) Speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected by the First Amendment and Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime b) Symbolic speech is protected under the First Amendment and The US Constitution and federal laws are supreme over state laws c) School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause and Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause d) The First Amendment safeguards the freedom of the press to publish classified materials and The right to privacy extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion

c) School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause and Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause (Engel v. Vitale was a landmark establishment clause case, while Wisconsin v. Yoder was a landmark free exercise clause case.)