The Civics Project Question: The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on state funding for religious schools confuses me. What does the Constitution actually say about religion? Answer: The U.S. Constitution does not say much directly. Article 6: Clause 3 states that “…No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Religion is mentioned again in the First Amendment, where we find many of the rights that we defend and debate today. The First Amendment restricts government from infringing on speech, the press, petitioning government for redress, and peaceable assembly. Those freedoms and the limitations on them are the subject of a great deal of debate and case law. The First Amendment also speaks to two distinct issues regarding religion. First, it protects the free exercise of religion, and second it prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The second provision, often referred to as the “Establishment Clause,” is the basis for the concept of the “separation of church and state.” Courts have historically used this clause to prohibit government from favoring a particular religion, or any religion. The idea of keeping the government apart from religion has its […]
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