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American Government, Ch.5 - Civil Liberties (What civil liberties do…

- - - - Torasco v. Watkins ruled that states can't implement any kind of religious test for public office, especially as a notary public.
      - Everson v. Board of Education ruled that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the establishment of religion by the federal government, extends to states.
      - Engel v. Vitale ruled that schools cannot promote religious messages or conduct recitals regularly.
      - Abington Township School District v. Schempp ruled to strengthen the precedent set by the Engel case by further ruling unconstitutional the mandatory Bible readings seen in Pennsylvania school districts.
      - Lemon v. Kurtzman ruled that the three-prong "Lemon Test," which was then established by the Supreme Court, would serve as a means of determination as to whether or not a certain statute is constitutional (all three prongs must be fulfilled for an act to be constitutional.) The prongs are as follows:
        - The statute must have a secular legislative purpose - The primary effect of the statute must not advance or inhibit religious purposes - The stature must not result in "excessive government entanglement" with religious affairs
        
        Lynch v. Donnelly ruled that Christmas decorations in a shopping district were not unconstitutional due to the commercialization of Christmas and the resulting non-religious purpose.
        
        Allegheny County v. ACLU ruled that while a Christmas tree and menorah displayed on public property were not unconstitutional (because they were commercialized and not religious,) a nativity scene was unconstitutional (because it was religious in purpose.)