Guided Reading Activity Answer Key - Weebly

Guided Reading Activity Answer Key

Constitutional Freedoms

Lesson 3 Freedom of Religion

Review Questions

I. Religious Freedom A. The two requirements are that the government shall not make laws to endorse or require a particular religion, and that the government shall not prohibit people from freely exercising their religion. In other words, the First Amendment prohibits the government from either endorsing or punishing religious belief or practice. B. One view is that the government must be neutral toward religion. According to the other view, the First Amendment requires the government to accommodate religious belief and practice, as long as it does not establish or promote a particular state or national religion.

II. The Establishment Clause A. It forbids state and federal governments from setting up churches, from passing laws aiding one or all religions, from favoring one religion over another, or from passing laws requiring attendance at any church or belief in any religious idea. B. The "separation of church and state" is not found in the Constitution, but was rather an explanation by Thomas Jefferson of the meaning of the establishment clause. C. "The Lemon Test" asks whether the activity has a secular purpose, whether its main effect is religiously neutral, and whether it avoids excessive entanglement of government with religion. D. Students may still study religion and meet in religious groups, and schools are allowed to teach about the history of religion and the religions of the world as long as they do not endorse any particular belief. Student-initiated and student-led groups, including student prayer groups, are allowed to use school space to meet outside school hours, just like any other club. E. Generally, the Supreme Court has ruled that in instances where governments display symbols of a variety of religions, or do so with a secular (nonreligious) purpose, such displays are constitutional.

III. The Free Exercise Clause A. The free exercise clause in the First Amendment protects the right of individuals to worship as they choose.

Summary and Reflection In Van Orden v. Perry, the Supreme Court ruled that a display on public property of a privately donated collection of monuments and statues that included the Ten Commandments was constitutional. It did not feature one particular religion. In Minersville School District v. Gobitis, the Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses must participate in the promotion of patriotism through the flag salute and Pledge of Allegiance, but this decision was reversed in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, when the Court ruled that patriotism could be achieved without forcing people to violate their religious beliefs.

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