Jumpstart Assignment

Describe the political cartoon
below.
Fundamental Freedoms:
st
The 1 Amendment
Chapter 19
Civil Liberties

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Basic freedoms that are protected from
government violation.
Are rights unlimited?
Civil Liberties vs. good of the public
The 14th Amendment

14th Amendments “Due Process
Clause” – “No State shall….
Deprive any person of life, liberty,
or property, without due process of
law…..”

This clause has been used to apply the
Constitutional protections of the Bill of
Rights to the States.
Freedom of Religion

Establishment Clause: “Congress shall
make no law respecting an
establishment of religion.”
A “wall of separation between
church and state”?
How would you describe the wall?
Establishment Clause (continued)

Religion in Public Schools
 Engel v. Vitale (1962) – the
Supreme Court outlawed the use of
a recited prayer in New York
schools
Can public high school football
players pray before a game?

Santa Fe School District vs. Doe
(2000)
 Supreme
Court struck down a
Texas High School student led
prayer
Can student religious groups
meet on school property?

Westside Community Schools vs.
Mergens (1990) – public schools
must allow student religious groups
to meet in the school on the same
terms that it sets for other student
organizations.
Can schools give kids “release
time” to have religious classes?
McCollum v. Board of Education
(1948) – not in public facilities.
 Zorach v. Clauson (1952) – it’s
okay as long as it’s on private
property.

Establishment Clause (continued)
Government Aid for Religion
 Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) –
government laws must
 Have a nonreligious purpose
 Neither advance nor limit
religion
 Not result in excessive
government involvement with
religion

Free Exercise Clause


“Congress shall make no law…
prohibiting the free exercise” of
religion
Supreme Courts view: religious
practices may be restricted if
they threaten the health and
safety of others or if they violate
social standards.
Free Exercise Case Studies:
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Can Amish school children end at 8th grade
despite a state law which requires students to
go until they are 16? Wisconsin v. Yoder
Can you smoke an illegal drug as part of a
religious service? Oregon v. Smith
Can a school suspend a student for not saluting
the U.S. flag even though the school requires
it? West Virginia v. Barnette
Can you sacrifice animals as part of a church
service? Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah