Lemon v. Kurtzman is a pivotal Supreme Court case that established the Lemon Test, shaping the interpretation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. This case addressed the constitutionality of state financial aid to religious schools and set a three-pronged criterion to assess government actions regarding religion. It remains a cornerstone in the debate over church-state separation and continues to influence legal precedent in the United States.
Show More
The First Amendment includes the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, which protect religious liberty and the separation of church and state
Pennsylvania Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968
This law provided financial aid to religious schools, leading to a debate over the separation of church and state
Rhode Island Salary Supplement Act of 1969
This law also provided financial assistance to private religious schools, prompting a challenge to its constitutionality
This Supreme Court case emerged from the challenge to the Pennsylvania and Rhode Island laws and shaped the interpretation of the Establishment Clause
The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from establishing a religion or excessively involving itself in religious activities
Three Prongs of the Lemon Test
The Lemon Test, established in Lemon v. Kurtzman, requires that a law have a secular purpose, not promote or inhibit religion, and avoid excessive government entanglement with religion
Application of the Lemon Test
The Lemon Test has been used in various Supreme Court cases to evaluate the constitutionality of government actions related to religion
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled against clergy-led prayers at school events without applying the Lemon Test
The Supreme Court upheld school vouchers that could be used at religious schools in this case
In this recent case, the Supreme Court favored a historical interpretation over the Lemon Test in a dispute over prayer at a school event
00
Origin of Lemon v. Kurtzman case
Case arose from PA and RI state laws funding religious schools, challenging church-state separation.
01
Establishment Clause primary concern
Prohibits government from establishing official religion or excessive involvement in religion.
02
The ______ Clause of the U.S. Constitution forbids the government from instituting a religion or showing preference, stemming from a wish to prevent conflicts seen in European ______-state unions.
Establishment
church
