Final answer:
The Kennedy decision, also known as Lemon v. Kurtzman, established the Lemon test for evaluating the constitutionality of government actions concerning religion, changing the relationship between the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. It strengthened the separation of church and state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kennedy decision, also known as the Supreme Court case of Lemon v. Kurtzman in 1971, established a new test for evaluating the constitutionality of government actions concerning religion. The ruling introduced the Lemon test, which states that a government action must have a secular purpose, must not have the primary effect of advancing or inhibiting religion, and must not result in excessive entanglement with religion.
This decision significantly changed the relationship between the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, which was the precedent set in the Engel v. Vitale decision in 1962. The Engel v. Vitale decision held that the establishment of a state-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause. The Kennedy decision expanded on this by providing a clearer framework for evaluating the constitutionality of government actions.
Overall, the Kennedy decision strengthened the separation of church and state and provided a more defined approach in dealing with issues of religion in public life.
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