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FAQs >
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The First Amendment says nothing about 'separation of church and state' or a ‘wall of separation between church and state.’ Where did this idea come from? Is it really part of the law?
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What is the 'Lemon test' for religious mottos and displays in public settings?
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Aren't the Ten Commandments posted in the U.S. Supreme Court chamber?
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Are religious displays on public property such as Ten Commandments in historical-documents exhibits legal?
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Are religious holiday displays on public property constitutional?
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A public employee wishes to convert a fellow employee to his religion. Does he have a First Amendment right to proselytize?
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My faith forbids me to work on Sundays, but my workplace is open and I’m expected to be there. What are my rights?
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May a religious group that receives funds to administer a homeless shelter discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion or adherence to religious doctrines?
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May the government constitutionally place conditions on religious tax exemptions?
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Are religious organizations allowed to lobby for or against legislation?
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Can federally funded senior centers include religious activities as part of their programs or services?
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How, if at all, can federally funded senior centers provide religious activities to those who want to participate?
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Can federally funded senior centers use religious beliefs to discriminate in deciding to whom to provide services?
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Does the Supreme Court's holding in Marsh mean that any plan for providing a legislature with a chaplain paid with public funds will be constitutional?
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May my state pass a voucher program in which some vouchers are used at religious schools?
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May a non-custodial parent be told not to expose a child to a religion other than the religion practiced by the custodial parent?
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Do religious institutions have a free-exercise right to tax exemptions?
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The Supreme Court has been clear that the simple act of taxation is not in and of itself a violation of either the First Amendment's free-exercise or establishment clauses. This does not mean, however, that it is impossible for a tax to violate either or both of the First Amendment’s religion clauses. If a tax were targeted in discriminatory ways or became so oppressive that it substantially constrained a religious group's ability to function, then it could possibly violate the free-exercise clause. Likewise, the administrative details of enforcing a taxation scheme could become so intricate and require so much interaction between the state and a religious organization that a court would find sufficient entanglement to violate the establishment clause, as interpreted through the Lemon test.
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If a prisoner who practiced the Sikh religion asked to wear a kirpan (small dagger), saying he needed to wear the kirpan to express his religious faith, must prison officials grant the request?
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If the Supreme Court struck down Congress' attempt to protect religious liberties in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, why wouldn't it just do the same thing with RLUIPA?
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Should society care about inmates' religious rights?
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Have there been any rulings yet on RLUIPA’s constitutionality?
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Do cities have the right to restrict the number of churches?
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Has the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of religious exemptions to state-compelled vaccination?
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Which states require immunizations for public schoolchildren, and which offer religious exemptions?
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How are exemption requests evaluated?
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Are religious exemptions the only way to opt out of mandatory vaccination?
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Can the government ever interfere with someone's religious practices?
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May states be required to grant exemptions for business owners whose Sabbath requires them to close their business on another day?
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May states choose only certain types of businesses to be closed on Sundays?
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Are state holidays constitutional when they are directly tied to some religious observance?
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Has the Supreme Court defined 'religion'?
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