1. Essential Question How does the Constitution protect citizen rights?

2. Citizen Rights (1)

3. Human Rights The idea that all Americans have basic rights lies at the heart of our political system

4. The Constitution Guarantees these rights The Bill of Rights guarantees that government cannot abuse the rights of individuals

5. Citizen Rights Majority Rule with Minority Rights

6. Freedom of Religion More than 90 percent of Americans identify with a religion

7. Freedom of Religion Jefferson stated the 1 st amendment created a “wall of separation” between Church and State

8. Establishment Clause The legislature will make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

9. Religion and Government

14. Engel v. Vitale (1962) School district in New York could not compose a religious prayer for school children to recite each day

15. Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) No school sponsored Bible reading or recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in public schools

16. Santa Fe v. Doe (2000) Public school districts cannot let students lead stadium crowds in prayer before football games

17. Equal Access Act (1984) Allows public high schools to permit religious groups to hold student-led meetings in schools

18. Marsh v. Chambers (1983) Ban on school prayer does not extend to government meetings Prayers have occurred since colonial times

19. Free Exercise Clause First Amendment forbids laws that prohibit the free exercise of religion

20. Court Rulings Distinction between belief and practice One may hold any religious belief, but there are limits on practice

21. Reynolds v. U.S. (1879) A Mormon with two wives in Utah appealed his conviction for polygamy His conviction remained

22. Oregon v. Smith (1990) Court denied unemployment benefits to a worker fired for using drugs as part of a religious ceremony

23. Wisconsin v. Yoder State could not require Amish parents to send children to public school beyond eighth grade