8.2 Freedom of Religion

Which of the following statements BEST describes how the separation of church and state reflects the principle of limited government?

• It establishes a wall between the National Government and the States.

• It limits government interference and prevents the government from favoring one religion over another.

• It limits individual rights to exercise religious preferences over those of others.

• It limits the religious practices that States can sponsor.

Which of the following is permitted in public schools?

• brief period of silence for “meditation or voluntary prayer”

• using tax money to bus students to parochial schools

• religious classes on school property

• posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms

Which of the following actions has the Supreme Court ruled a violation of the Establishment Clause?

• public displays of the Ten Commandments at government buildings when set among other historical markers

• public displays of the Ten Commandments at government buildings when the overall message is secular

• seasonal displays at government buildings that include a variety of nonreligious objects

• seasonal displays of a single religious doctrine at government buildings

Which of the following is an example of the Supreme Court limiting the free exercise of religion?

• allowing State legislatures to begin legislative sessions with an opening prayer

• declaring a compulsory flag-salute law unconstitutional

• permitting school children to decline vaccinations when their religion opposes it

• upholding laws that forbid the use of poisonous snakes in religious rites

What protection does the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment provide to citizens?

• The government will provide a national religion.

• The government may not establish or aid any religion.

• The government may not allow the establishment of any religion.

• The government will provide aid and money to religious groups.

What does the Free Exercise Clause of the 1st Amendment guarantee?

• People are free to believe and act however they wish in matters of religion.

• People are free to believe whatever they wish in matters of religion.

• People are free to act in any manner in matters of religion.

• People are free to exercise religious practices anywhere they wish.

Which of the following is NOT protected by the Free Exercise Clause?

• establishing a new religion

• building a new place of worship near a school

• holding a religious ceremony with friends

• refusing to pay a traffic fine for religious reasons

Which constitutional provision sets up, in Thomas Jefferson's words, "a wall of separation between church and state"?

• the Free Exercise Clause

• the Due Process Clause

• the Establishment Clause

• the Religious Freedom Clause

Which of the following is NOT used as part of the Lemon test to determine whether a State law amounts to an "establishment" of religion?

• A. Determining whether a law has a secular purpose

• A. Determining whether the law supports the public good

• A. Determining whether the law is disentangled from religion

• A. Determining whether the law is neutral to religion

The Supreme Court has held that public schools cannot

• allow religious groups to meet in school.

• allow students to pray before eating lunch.

• permit the study of the Bible under any circumstance.

• require a moment of silence at the start of each day.