Next 10 Amendments: The separation of church and state
One of the big Supreme Court rulings next year will be about prayer at public functions, in the latest constitutional debate about the First Amendment, and the separation of church and state.
The case of Town of Greece v. Galloway involves the legality of saying a prayer before the start of public township board meeting. The use of prayer at public buildings has been a hot-button subject for years.
As part of our Next 10 Amendments project, we’ve asked Constitution Daily readers to give us their opinions on possible new amendments, including one that clarifies the Religious clauses in the First Amendment.
You can see other topics below, and people have made a lot of good points, in a civil way.
Links to Debates: Right To Bear Arms | Balanced Budget | Right To Privacy | Term Limits | Same-Sex Marriage
What do you think: Should there be a new amendment to clarify the separation of church and state as defined by the courts?
Here’s how you can participate in our project:
1. Check out the resources in the sidebar at right to learn more about the historical context and current events related to this issue.
2. In the comments below, share your thoughts and explore what others are saying. (Please keep your comments respectful and on topic.)
3. Check back each week for the latest discussion topic.
4. In early September, cast your vote in a referendum on potential amendments, gathered from participant comments.
Our discussion is moderated by Chris Phillips, research fellow of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing at the University of Pennsylvania and executive director of the nonprofit organization Democracy Café.
(Note to readers on Yahoo! News: If you want to take part in the debate, use this link and comment at the end of the story: http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/?p=26824.)
