Rights & liberties
Establishment Clause
Government may not establish a religion or favor one over another, or over nonbelief. The other half of the First Amendment's religion protections.
In full
The clause bars an official church, religious tests for office, and government coercion in religious exercise. Doctrine has shifted from the Lemon test toward an approach grounded in historical practice and tradition, announced in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022), which has changed outcomes in disputes over school prayer, public displays, and funding.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.