Lynch v. Donnelly Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of a religion…” The Lemon Test: Since 1971, the Supreme Court has used the following 3-part test to determine the constitutionality of state aid to church schools and other laws concerning religion. In the case Lemon v. Kurtzman, the Court state that to be constitutional, the law must: 1. Have a clear, secular non-religious purpose. 2. Not advance or inhibit any religion. 3. Avoid “excessive government entanglement with religion.
Watch the video. Take notes on the arguments for each side. Then, using the above test & information in the video, decide which side you agreed with: The City of Pawtucket (Lynch) or The American Civil Liberties Union (Donnelly). Be prepared to defend your answer. Arguments Lynch (Pawtucket) Donnelly (ACLU)
Your Decision & Explanation
Lynch v. Donnelly Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of a religion…” The Lemon Test: Since 1971, the Supreme Court has used the following 3-part test to determine the constitutionality of state aid to church schools and other laws concerning religion. In the case Lemon v. Kurtzman, the Court state that to be constitutional, the law must: 1. Have a clear, secular non-religious purpose. 2. Not advance or inhibit any religion. 3. Avoid “excessive government entanglement with religion.
Watch the video. Take notes on the arguments for each side. Then, using the above test & information in the video, decide which side you agreed with: The City of Pawtucket (Lynch) or The American Civil Liberties Union (Donnelly). Be prepared to defend your answer. Arguments Lynch (Pawtucket) Donnelly (ACLU)
Your Decision & Explanation Group Activity Pick one group to side with in the controversy. Follow the instructions below: they intermingle sometimes. This group is Heels Against Trees open to other religious holidays being Heels Against Trees are a campus celebrated in public places because they organization that supports the removal of feel it is part of our shared history as Christmas trees from UNC libraries. This Americans. group favors a strict separation of church and state. They feel that no religious Your job as a member of this group is to: holidays should be celebrated or recognized • Create a protest sign that supports your by UNC because it is a public institution, viewpoint. It should be colorful and creative. paid for by the taxpayers of the state. • Write one question to ask the panelists.
Your job as a member of this group is to: • Create a protest sign that supports your viewpoint. It should be colorful and creative. • Write one question to ask the panelists.
Christmas Defense Coalition The Christmas Defense Coalition is a campus organization that opposes the removal of Christmas trees from UNC libraries. This group favors a separation of church and state but feels that it is ok if