Name:
Date:
Period:
NE _____
The SUPREME COURT and the 1st AMENDMENT:
How Has the Court Addressed Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Expression Issues?
DIRECTIONS: The chart below identifies the judicial principles that have been established as precedent by the
Supreme Court to guide decision-making in cases that center on the 1st Amendment protections of freedom of
religion and freedom of speech. Listed below the chart are descriptions of cases that involve these freedoms. After
reading each scenario:
1) Identify the 1st Amendment freedom that is at stake (i.e., establishment clause, free exercise clause,
freedom of speech, or freedom of the press)
2) Identify the relevant judicial principle (e.g., Lemon Test, Strict Scrutiny, Clear and Present Danger) that
should be applied to render a ruling.
3) Explain how the Court should rule on the case.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Establishment Clause
 The Lemon Test (Lemon
v. Kurtzman, 1971)
 Neutrality & Excessive
Entanglement (Agostini
v. Felton, 1997)
Free Exercise Clause
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Freedom of Speech
 Strict Scrutiny
(Sherbert v. Verner,
1963)
 The Clear and Present
Danger Test (Schenck
v. U.S. 1919)
 Indirect Restriction
(Employment Division v.
Smith, 1990)
 Advocacy of Ideas vs.
Incitement (Schenck v.
U.S. 1919, Brandenburg
v. Ohio, 1969)
 Symbolic Expression
(Tinker v. Des Moines
ISD, 1969, Johnson v.
Texas, 1989, U.S. v.
Eichman, 1990)
 Fighting Words &
Threatening
Expression (Chaplinsky
v. New Hampshire,
1942, Cohen v.
California, 1971, Reno
v. ACLU, 1997)
Freedom of the Press
 Malice (New York
Times v. Sullivan.
1964, Hustler
Magazine v. Falwell,
1988)
 Prior Restraint
(Near v. Minnesota.
1931, New York
Times v. United
States, 1971)
 Expression vs.
Order (Branzburg v.
Hayes, 1972, Zurcher
v. Stanford Daily
1978, Hazelwood
School District v.
Kuhlmeier, 1988)
 Obscenity (The Miller
Test) Miller v.
California, 1973)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
1) Facts of the Case: A Virginia public school teacher leads a non-denominational prayer in her 4th grade
classroom. She does not demand that all students participate. Non-religious parents of a student challenge
this practice arguing that First Amendment rights have been violated. Is the action of the teacher
constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Page 1
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2) Facts of the Case: Congress says a non-denominational prayer to open its session. Non-Christians
challenge the practice arguing that the Christian prayer infringes on their right to free exercise and
violates general principles of separation of church and state. Is the action of Congress constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3) Facts of the Case: “In God We Trust” is printed on every U.S. penny. An atheist challenges this on the
grounds that this violates separation of church and state. Is this practice constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4) Facts of the Case: A Virginia public school district forbids Muslim students from daily prayer because it
interrupts the school day. Is the action of the school district constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5) Facts of the Case: During the month of December a nativity scene is displayed in front of the Albemarle
County Courthouse in Charlottesville, Virginia. Is the action of the city to put the scene on display
constitutional?
Page 2
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6) Facts of the Case: The Virginia State Board of Education requires all state public school systems to teach
creationism side-by-side with evolution. Is the action of the Board of Education constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7) Facts of the Case: The Arlington County Schools accepts funds from various religious organizations to
teach abstinence and/or safe sex practices to students. Is the action of the school district constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
8) Facts of the Case: The Washington, D.C. City Council denies a permit request by a white supremacist
group to march down Constitution Avenue. Is the action by the council constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
9) Facts of the Case: A U.S. circuit court of appeals upholds a ban on an Internet site that advocates the
murder of abortion doctors. Is the ruling of the circuit court constitutional?
Page 3
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
10) Facts of the Case: Ms. Jackson, principal of Wakefield High School, prohibits the editors of The Chieftain
from printing articles criticizing teachers because it hurts the morale of the school. Is Ms. Jackson’s action
constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
11) Facts of the Case: A U.S. circuit court orders reporters from Time magazine and the New York Times to
reveal the names of confidential sources who claim that Bush administration officials leaked the name of a
covert CIA operative to the press. Is the court’s order constitutional?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
12) Facts of the Case: Brad Pitt sues the National Inquirer for printing false information about him being
sterile and, therefore, incapable of fathering children with Angelina Jolie. Is Pitt entitled to libel damages?
1st Amendment Freedom at Stake:
__________________________________________________________
Relevant Judicial Principle:
__________________________________________________________
How Should the Court Rule? Why?: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Page 4