Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
establishment clause
noun
/ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt klɔːz/
Definition
The Establishment Clause is a part of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.
Examples
- The establishment clause was invoked in cases regarding the funding of religious schools.
- Many debates surrounding school prayer are anchored in the principles set forth by the establishment clause.
- Legal scholars often discuss the implications of the establishment clause in the context of religious freedom.
Meaning
It ensures that there is a separation of church and state, meaning that the government cannot create laws that would support or endorse a particular religious group or belief.
Synonyms
- separation of church and state
- religious neutrality
