Lesson 28: How Does the First Amendment Affect the Establishment and Free Exercise of Religion?

Lesson Objectives

When you have finished this lesson, you should  be able to

• explain the importance of religious freedom in the United States and to identify primary differences between the establishment and free exercise clauses,
• describe how the Supreme Court has interpreted the religion clauses, ongoing issues involving those clauses, and how conflicts can arise between the establishment and free exercise clauses, and
• evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues  arising from guarantees relating to the establishment and free exercise of religion clauses of  the Constitution.