Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson is known for using the phrase "a wall of separation" between church and state, reflecting his interpretation of the First Amendment. This concept has been used in Supreme Court cases to assess the constitutionality of government actions related to religion, particularly with the establishment of the Lemon test.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "a wall of separation" between church and state is attributed to Thomas Jefferson. He used this phrase in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802 to describe his understanding of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Jefferson's interpretation emphasizes that the government shall not establish an official religion nor restrict the religious practices of its people.
In terms of legal precedence, the phrase does not appear verbatim in the Constitution, but it has become a key concept in law and religion debates in the United States. The Supreme Court has often used this concept to interpret the establishment clause and determine the constitutionality of governmental actions related to religion, notably in the 1971 case of Lemon v. Kurtzman.
The Lemon test, established by this case, is utilized to ensure that a government action does not violate the separation of church and state by promoting a particular religion. The discussion of this separation is a core issue in the ongoing negotiation about the role of religious influence in government and the protection of individual religious liberties.