CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
W.B. Fisch, Fall 2003
Assignment #46
[Chapter 17. RELIGION AND THE CONSTITUTION
[1. The Establishment Clause
[B. Government
Religious Exercises, Ceremonies, Displays and Practices]
2. Religious Speech and Displays on Public Property
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COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY V. ACLU, p. 1607 (1989)
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what action is challenged, with what purpose?
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what standard of review does the Court apply?
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pure Lemon?
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what role does the "message of endorsement" concept play in this standard?
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do the Justices differ concerning the applicable standard, or only on the
result of its application in this case?
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how do the crêche and the menora displays differ, if at all, in terms
of this standard?
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compare Lynch (1984): how did that crêche differ from this
one?
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compare Stone v. Graham (1980): The Ten Commandments
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How is a state's purpose to be determined? Should the courts be bound by
the state's assertion of such a purpose (here, to provide a moral guide)?
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Are the Commandments just a moral code? Is it plausible to assert a secular
purpose in displaying and reciting them?
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CAPITOL SQUARE REVIEW AND ADVISORY BD.V. PINETTE,
p. 1619 (1995).
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What regulation or action is being challenged,
and what is it purpose?
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What is the basis for the challenge?
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Is the challenged action distinguishable from
that in Lamb's Chapel? If so, is the distinction favorable or unfavorable
to the action?
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Is the challenged action distinguishable from
that in Allegheny County? If so, does it help or hurt the Board's
case?
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Is it significant that the challenged action
occurred in December 1993, on advice of counsel, less than a year after
Lamb's Chapel was handed down? Could counsel have learned anything
from that case, that would dictate the challenged decision?
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Why wouldn't it constitute an "endorsement"
of the KKK's religious views, to allow it to display its cross in close
proximity to the Capitol Building? What kind of "endorsement" does the
CSRAB suggest is involved?
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What is the nature of the "exception to the
endorsement test", which Justice O'Connor believes Justice Scalia (for
the plurality) would "carve out"? Why does she object to it? Does she correctly
read his opinion?
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What about the option for the state of posting
a disclaimer on or near the KKK's cross, denying any endorsement? Would
that be problematic?
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GOOD NEWS CLUB V. MILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL,
Supp. p. 281 (2001).
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How does this situation differ, if at all,
from Lamb’s Chapel?
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Is there a greater risk of implicit school
endorsement of an activity directed to elementary school children, than
of one directed to adults?
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are Milford’s rules substantially different
from those of Center Moriches Union, or were both acting on a generalized
prohibition against use for religious purposes?
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Suppose a church asks Milford for use of its
building for Sunday services and Sunday School. Can the school properly
refuse, assuming no prior commitments of the space?