Question

The cases Holt v. Hobbs and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores both addressed the ___ clause of the First Amendment, and in both circumstances, the Court ___ protection from religious discrimination.

Answer 1

Holt v. Hobbs and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores addressed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the context of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, with the Court granting protection from religious discrimination in both cases, including for closely held, for-profit corporations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cases Holt v. Hobbs and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores both addressed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) within the context of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. In both circumstances, the Court extended protection from religious discrimination. The decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby specifically acknowledged that closely held, for-profit corporations have free exercise rights under the RFRA, allowing them to deny coverage for contraceptives in their health plans if providing such coverage violates the owners' religious beliefs.

These cases indicate the ongoing challenge the Supreme Court faces in balancing religious liberty with other societal interests and legal requirements. In both the Hobby Lobby decision and previous cases like Sherbert v. Verner and Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Court has had to navigate the complexities of what constitutes an "exercise" of religion that deserves protection under the First Amendment. The Court has consistently sought to uphold religious freedoms while considering the government's compelling interests and the narrow tailoring of laws that impact religious practice.