Wallace v. Jaffree

472 U.S. 38, 105 S.Ct. 2479, 86 L.ed.2d 29 (1985)

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Wallace v. Jaffree

United States Supreme Court
472 U.S. 38, 105 S.Ct. 2479, 86 L.ed.2d 29 (1985)

  • Written by Mary Pfotenhauer, JD
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Facts

In 1978 Alabama passed a law authorizing a one-minute period of silence in public schools for meditation. In 1981 Alabama passed a law authorizing a one-minute period of silence in public schools for meditation or voluntary prayer. Appellees challenge the later statute authorizing a period of silence for meditation or voluntary prayer.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Stevens, J.)

Concurrence (O’Connor, J.)

Dissent (Burger, C.J.)

Dissent (Rehnquist, J.)

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Casebooks

Constitutional Law

Education Law

First Amendment

Religion

Key Terms

  • Establishment ClauseThe provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution that prohibits the government from making laws that establish or favor a religion, or no religion.
  • Purpose testOne prong of the test set out under Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), for determining the constitutionality of a law under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which requires that a law concerning religion have a secular legislative purpose.

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