Paul Jones Mrs. Quinn G.A.L.R.E. December 8, 2010 Unit 5 Lesson
28 Reviewing and Using the Lesson 1. What is an established church?
Why is the establishment clause important even though there have
not been established churches in American for nearly two centuries?
A state religion (also called an official religion, established
church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially
endorsed by the state. Practically, a state without a state
religion is called a secular state, while a state governed by
clergy is a theocracy. 2. How would you explain the principle of
the separation of church and state? The concept of separation of
church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between
organized religion and the nation state. The term is an offshoot of
the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state," as
written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists
Association in 1802. 3. Why have disagreements arisen over the
meaning of the establishment clause?
The establishment clause has generally been interpreted to
prohibit 1) the establishment of a national religion by Congress,
or 2) the preference by the U.S. government of one religion over
another. The first approach is called the "separation" or "no aid"
interpretation, while the second approach is called the
"non-preferential" or "accommodation" interpretation.4. What is the
free exercise clause? Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
5. How might the establishment clause and the free exercise clause
come into conflict? Give examples. For example, say the government
wants to run a program to pay Catholics to train to become Priests.
Most would agree that program by itself would violate the
establishment clause. However, say the government has a program
that pays everyone to go to college, but only on the condition that
you not study to become a Catholic Priest. 6. What tests has the
Supreme Court used in deciding cases under the establishment clause
and the free exercise clause?
