Question

The First Amendment includes two clauses relating to the freedom of religion.

(a) Select one of the following cases and identify the First Amendment clause upon which the United States Supreme Court based its decision.
• Engel v. Vitale (school prayer)
• Lemon v. Kurtzman (state funding for private religious schools)
(b) Describe the Supreme Court's decision in the case that you selected in (a).
(c) Select one of the following cases and identify the First Amendment clause upon which the Supreme Court based its decision.
• Reynolds v. United States (polygamy)
• Oregon v. Smith (drug use in religious ceremonies)
(d) Describe the Supreme Court's decision in the case that you selected in (c).
(e) Many of these decisions have caused controversy in the United States. Describe two ways in which other political institutions might limit the impact of Supreme Court decisions.

Answer 1

The First Amendment case of Engel v. Vitale was based on the Establishment Clause and ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. Reynolds v. United States, based on the Free Exercise Clause, ruled that religious beliefs cannot be used as a defense against a criminal indictment. Other political institutions can limit the impact of Supreme Court decisions through judicial appointments and constitutional amendments.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to part (a) of the question, Engel v. Vitale is a case in which the Supreme Court based its decision on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In this case, the Court ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

In response to part (b) of the question, the Supreme Court's decision in Engel v. Vitale was that school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional as it violates the Establishment Clause. The Court found that the prayer in question was a religious activity initiated and controlled by the state, thus constituting government endorsement of religion.

In response to part (c) of the question, Reynolds v. United States is a case in which the Supreme Court based its decision on the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. In this case, the Court ruled that religious beliefs cannot be used as a defense against a criminal indictment.

In response to part (d) of the question, the Supreme Court's decision in Reynolds v. United States was that religious belief or duty cannot be used as a defense against a criminal indictment. The Court held that while individuals have the freedom to believe what they choose, they cannot use religious belief as a justification for engaging in illegal activities, such as polygamy.

In response to part (e) of the question, two ways in which other political institutions might limit the impact of Supreme Court decisions are through the appointment of judges who interpret the Constitution in a certain way and through the process of amending the Constitution itself.