RELIGION & LAW FALL 2011: SYLLABUS (UNITS I & II)
V = Pages in Volokh, Religion Clauses & Related Statutes
F = Pages in Posted Fajer Course Materials
IM = Pages in Posted Information Memos
UNIT I. INTRODUCTION
A. Introductory Material
1. Tentative Course Overview (IM1)
2. Information about the Course (IM2-5)
3. Information about the Instructor (IM5-7)
4. Discussion Questions 1.01-1.03 (F1)
5. Summary of Doctrine (V1-3)
B. The Free Exercise Clause & Related Statutes: Overview
1. Overview of Doctrine (V339-43)
2. Original Meaning: City of Boerne v. Flores (1997) (V402-14)
3. RFRA (V398-99)
4. RLUIPA (V400-02)
C. The Establishment Clause: Overview
1. Overview of Doctrine (V3-6)
2. Materials on Original Meaning (V309-29)
D. No Religious Decisions
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V230-31)
b. U.S. v. Ballard (1944) (V232-36)
c. Presbyterian Church v. Mary Elizabeth Blue Hull Memorial Presbyterian Church
(1969) (V236-40)
d. Thomas v. Review Board (V240-41)
e. Discussion Questions 1.04-1.09 (F1-2)
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2. Problem 1A: Kosher Enforcement
a. Problem (V231-32)
b. Discussion Question 1.10 (F2)
3. Problem 1B: Negligent Hiring
a. Problem (V232)
b. Discussion Question 1.11 (F2)
UNIT II. The Non-Discrimination Principle
A. No Discrimination Against Religious Practices
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V7-10)
b. McDaniel v. Paty (US 1978) (V11-16)
c. Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (U.S. 1993) (V16-25)
d. Locke v. Davey (U.S. 2004) (V26-33)
e. Discussion Questions 2.01-2.05 (F2-F3)
2. Case Study: City of Hialeah & Evidence of Intentional Discrimination
a. Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (U.S. 1993) (V16-25) (Review)
b. Discussion Questions 2.06-2.10 (F3)
3. Problem 2A: Religious Garb Statutes
a. Problem (V10)
b. Discussion Questions 2.11-2.12 (F3)
4. Problem 2B: Mortmain Statutes
a. Problem (V10)
b. Discussion Questions 2.13-2.14 (F3)
5. Problem 2C: Tax Exemptions for Secular Donations Only
a. Problem (V25-26)
b. Discussion Questions 2.15-2.16 (F4)
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B. No Discrimination Among Religions
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V33-34)
b. Larson v. Valente (U.S. 1982) (V34-40)
c. Discussion Questions 2.17-2.20 (F4)
2. Problem 2D: Peyote Exception
a. Problem (V34)
b. Discussion Questions 2.21-2.22 (F4)
C. No Discrimination Against the Irreligious
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V41-42)
b. Zorach v. Clausen (U.S. 1952) (V44-49)
c. Torcaso v. Watkins (U.S. 1961) (V49-50)
d. Welsh v. U.S. (U.S. 1970) (V50-54)
e. Discussion Questions 2.23-2.28 (F4-5)
f. Estate of Thornton v. Calder (U.S. 1985) (V55-56)
g. Corporation of the Presiding Bishop v. Amos (U.S. 1989) (V57-62)
h. Cutter v. Wilkinson (U.S. 2005) (V79-83)
i. Discussion Questions 2.29-2.30 (F5)
j. Texas Monthly v. Bullock (U.S. 1989) (V62-68)
k. Discussion Questions 2.31-2.33 (F5)
l. Kiryas Joel Village Sch. Dist. v. Grumet (U.S. 1994) (V68-78)
m. Discussion Questions 2.34-2.35 (F5)
n. Note: Policy: Equal Treatment (V84-89)
2. Problem 2E: Clergy-Congregant Privilege
a. Problem (V42-43)
b. Discussion Questions 2.36-2.37 (F5)
3. Problem 2F: Exemption from Housing Discrimination Law
a. Problem (V43)
b. Discussion Questions 2.36-2.37 (F5)
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UNIT III. Addressing Indirect Establishment/Implicit Discrimination
A. No “Endorsement”
1. Doctrine & Policy (Part I)
a. Summary (V89-90)
b. Engel v. Vitale (U.S. 1962) (V91-97)
c. Policy: Need to Avoid Religious Strife (V97-100)
d. Marsh v. Chambers (U.S. 1983)(V100-09)
e. Policy: Original Meaning (V109-12)
f. Policy: Tradition (V112-15)
2. Problem 3A: Virginia Beach City Seal
a. Problem (V91)
b. Discussion Questions (sent in e-mail; reprinted below1)
3. Public Religious Displays
a. County of Allegheny v. ACLU (U.S. 1989)
i) Are Religious Displays Constitutional (V120-32)
ii) Applying the Endorsement Test (V132-38)
b. The 2005 Ten Commandments Cases: Overview and Excerpts (V138-70)
c. Capitol Square v. Pinette (U.S. 1995) (V171-81)
4. Policy Segments (115-20; 182-86)
B. No “Primary Religious Purpose”
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V186-87)
b. Edwards v. Aguillard (U.S. 1987) (V188-200)
c. McCreary County v. ACLU (U.S. 2005) (V200-15)
2. Policy Segment (V215-16)
3. Problem 3B: Evolution Disclaimer (V187)
4. Problem 3C: Teaching that Human Life is Precious (V188)
1
What result under the Endorsement Test? Try to use specific references to the opinions in
County of Allegheny & the Ten Commandments Cases. What additional facts would be helpful
to support each position? What arguments do you see from the policy segments?
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C. No “Coercion”
1. Doctrine
a. Summary (V216-17)
b. Lee v. Weisman (U.S. 1992) (V220-29)
c. Discussion Questions (sent in e-mail; reprinted below2)
2. Policy Segment (V230)
3. Coercion Problems
a. Problem 3D: Alcoholics Anonymous (V217)
b. Problem 3E: University Graduation Prayer (V217)
c. Problem 3F: Get (V218-19)
d. Problem 3G: Pledge of Allegiance (V219-20) (on your own)
D. ASIDE: Afro-Caribbean Religions in the U.S. Court System (Lecture)
UNIT IV. The Debate About Excluding Religion
A. Delegation to Religious Institutions
1. Doctrine
a. Summary: No Delegation (V329)
b. Larkin v. Grendel’s Den (V331-34)
c. Kiryas Joel Village School Distr. v. Grumet (V334-38)
2. Delegation Problems
a. Problem 4A: Copyright Protection (V329-30)
b. Problem 4B: Univ. Police Dept. (V330-31)
B. Government Funding & Religious Institutions (EST)
1. Background
a. Summary: Funding Programs (V242-43)
b. Everson v. Board of Ed. (V244-47)
c. Lemon v. Kurtzman (V249-58)
d. Witters v. Wash. Dept. of Servs. (V263-65)
2
Besides coercion, which of the concerns related to the Establishment Clause (endorsement,
equality, entanglement, funding, etc.) are raised by the facts of Lee v. Weisman?
What
evidence is there as to whether or not the prayer was “coercive”? Do you agree with the court’s
conclusion? What result if the case is judged solely under the endorsement test?
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2. Rosenberger v. Rector (V266-73)
3. Problem 4C: Income Tax Exemption (V262) (on your own)
4. Problem 4D: NEA (V329-30)
UNIT V. The Debate About Accommodating Religion
A. Compelled Exemptions
1. Central Principles
a. Summary (V339-43)
b. Employment Div. v. Smith (V343-55)
c. Policy Segments (V361-67)
d. Strict Scrutiny (V369-73)
2. Background Cases
a. Pre-Strict Scrutiny
i) Reynolds v. U.S. (V358-61)
ii) Prince v. Massachusetts (V373-77)
b. Strict Scrutiny Era
i) Sherbert v. Verner (V377-80)
ii) Thomas v. Review Board (V355-57)
iii) Wisconsin v. Yoder (V384-92)
iv) U.S. v. Lee (V357-58, 392-95)
v) Bob Jones (V395-96)
3. Problem 5A: The Bad Amish (V383-84) (on your own)
B. Substantial Burden as Threshold
1. Summary (V414-16)
2. Locke v. Davey (V26-33) (review)
3. Swaggert Ministries v. Bd. of Equalization (V416-18)
4. Braunfeld v. Brown (V419-26)
5. Lyng v. NICPA (V427-37)
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C. Putting It Together: Religious Objections/Accommodations to Marital Status AntiDiscrimination Statutes
1. Problem 5B: Marital Status Discrimination in Housing (V367-68)
2. Problem 2F: Exemption from Housing Discrimination Law (V43) (review)
3. Swanner v. Anchorage Equal Rts. Comm’n (e-mail handout)
4. Thomas v. Anchorage Equal Rts. Comm’n (e-mail handout)
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